OTN Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Appendage Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > Saw a tie crane and a trailer thing picking up
> > stuff along the ROW just north of Novato today.
>
> > Saw a hi-railer in the same area yesterday.
> >
> > I walked about a half mile of the ROW in
> Petaluma
> > near the 101 overcrossing, near the factory
> > outlets. I was surprised how many bad ties are
> > still in place. After Herzong replaced some
> ties
> > in 2000 plus the latest round of work you'd
> think
> > most of 'em would be gone. By my estimate, in
> > that area, approximately one of every 5 ties is
> > badly deteriorated.
>
> Does it meet FRA Class 2 standards?

It sounds as if track is Class 3 or higher if rail joints have good ties.

CFR 49 213.109 (d) Each 39 foot segment of track shall have the minimum number of crossties as indicated in the following table:

Class 1 track tangent 5, turnouts and curves over 2 degrees 6
Class 2 track 8 9
Class 3 track 8 10
Class 4 and 5 12 14

(f)
Class 1 and 2 track shall have one crosstie whose centerline is within 24 inches of each rail joint. Class 3 through 5 shall have one crosstie whose centerline is within 18 inches of each rail joint or two crossties whose centerlines are within 24 inches either side of each rail joint location.