Abandoned SP stations were prone to catching fire back in the late sixties, and it was a popular theory, that the SP would only hire Boy Scouts as Assistant Trainmasters, because they had the requisite fire starting skills to effeciently dispose of surplus property. Like the alligators in the sewers...it was another RR variation on that theme.

Leaving the used branch line ties with older ties with lower creosote levels and less toxic exposure for landscaping, or fence posts, was once a solution. I once did a garden with them. These more "modern" ties are much more toxic, and no one wants them.

UP's problem is the hazard, that UP has created, by improperly and unsafely storing them, in giant flammable pyre's, and not disposing of them in a timely manner. This is regardless of the initial cause of these fires, even if was the result of a criminal acts like arson (by "homeless" persons, or even by UP officials). And thus, UP has significant liability exposure for any resulting damages or injury to others.

The generation of current RR ties now being replaced (with complete concrete rebuilds in many of these cases) are especially well treated and much more toxic. These ties will need to have expensive disposal in a toxic level land fill, with lots of truck costs, and lots of dump fees.

This problem of tie disposal is not a new problem. The RR's and public rail agencies have been dealing with it form many years. Which won't help UP very much in the depositions, with all of those subsequent hourly legal costs, when they try to claim they didn't know...

So, at some point, maybe not just guards, but actually hiring folks to move them and pay the dump fees will finally be cheaper, than the likely lawsuits will cost to settle.

And, after at least three fires in less than two months, it's not like UP hasn't quite figured that out, and how exposed they are if they do some real damage, right?

It'll be interesting to see if they've had that epiphany yet, and these don't start moving out more quickly