Old Railroad Iron

[65 lovaffair]

Hay everyone or anyone with knowledge about old iron rail track. I have a few acres and while clearing the back part of it I found a 30ft. iron rail. Its in pretty good shape-very heavy. I was wondering if it has any value other than scrap price. It's apprx. 4.5 in. high and 4.5 in wide at the base. Any info. about this would be greatly appreciated. Eldon

 

[jayrush13]

Cut off chunks for beating on or make a gate like you see on logging roads

Where a outs in oregon are you located if you end up cutting it up I would be interested in a piece or two if the price was right

 

[ttensirk]

Most scrap yards wont accept RR rail, tie plates, &/or spikes without proper documentation. Before you drag into the scrap yard, give them a call and see what you need to do to prove you have the right to cash in for scrap. You would make more money selling in 1'-4' lengths to people on Craigslist/ RR Foamers.

Is the manufacturer's name & date (month/year) visible on the rail?

 

[bad_idea]

If you were closer to me, I would pay decent money for a chunk of it. Another vote for sell it by the foot on CL.

 

[trainman1385]

What is the best way to cut the rail?

 

[scotty t]

bandsaw works great, so does a torch. i found some at work that dated 1916!

 

[65 lovaffair]

Thanks for the ideas guys. I'm in St Helens. No date or Manufacture name yet. I'll take a power wire wheel to it. Jayrush, I do get down south alot - "Salem" Whats a good price?

 

[NUTTSGT]

I'd sell it in sections before scrapping it.

 

[RV77]

Ship it to me I will buy it

 

[Nick Danger]

Ranchers use it for cattle guards.

I'm looking for someone local who's selling a small piece that I can use as a small anvil.

 

[LLave]

As stated, I would hack off a chunk for an anvil. That would be awesome.

 

[65 lovaffair]

RV77 you pay shipping and its yours for $500.00

 

[billspit]

Around here the scrap yards won't touch rail road scrap. But few have any problem taking AC coils , bronze vases from cemeteries etc from tweekers.

 

[G_P]

Around here the scrap yards won't touch rail road scrap. But few have any problem taking AC coils , bronze vases from cemeteries etc from tweekers.

Same here. They wont take a bucket of old rusty RR spikes but will gladly take whole complete war memorial plaques

 

[zoomzoomjeff]

You've seen that ****? How can those guys sleep at night?



anyways, +1 for putting on craigslist.

 

[turbowoodworker]

I just won a 15" section at auction for $7 and saw a similar size on CL for $100. Seems the prices per short section are all over the place. But if you price it reasonably, you will have lots of takers and make a few bucks quickly. Lots of GJ folks would like a true anvil but can't justify the prices they are commanding on CL nowadays.

 

[RV77]

RV77 you pay shipping and its yours for $500.00

I was trying to be funny as I would hate to see the bill to ship 30' of rail

 

[PETE14]

You could always make a really bad *** front bumper for your truck, like so....

 

[dumper]

I sold a couple of pieces of RR track. They were 10" and 14" long. Sold on cl, here in central Oregon, for $20 and $35. If you shape the pieces into anvils, you can probably get more...but its too much work. I cut these pieces with an abrasive blade on my circular saw.

 

[raddksn]

You could always make a really bad *** front bumper for your truck, like so....

Is that the truck from duel with Dennis Weaver?

 

[SouthernGemini]

In Mandeville, La a few restauranteurs built a local brewery/eating establishment and called it 'The Old Rail'. When you sit at the bar, you casually set your feet on a long piece of rail from the track which laid adjacent to the restaurant. Build yourself a bar.

 

[bmwe0692]

As a previous poster replied, scrape all the rust,dirt and mill scale off. There should be a company mark, with the size, date, year and if it came from the top C, middle A or bottom B of the ignot.
This is repeated every three feet along the rail. A real good way to find out what you have, is to cut off three feet of rail and weigh the piece.
Whatever the three foot piece weighs is the weight of the rail.
4.5 x 4.5 is probably between 85# and either 95 or 100#. Like others have said, cut it in foot lenghts, more weight, more the price. This winter, you could, in your spare time make a spare anvil for yourself. If you make one in a couple days and you like doing this, make more and setup a production line. hahahahah!!!!!

T.J.

 

[65 lovaffair]

I love the bumper on the old pete but I think I'll cut it up and sell on cl. Very nice job on the anvils dumper. Where do you live in C. Or.

 

[brucer]

I've seen a chassis table made out of rails before.

 

[dumper]

I love the bumper on the old pete but I think I'll cut it up and sell on cl. Very nice job on the anvils dumper. Where do you live in C. Or.

thanks. I'm in Bend.

 

[PETE14]

Is that the truck from duel with Dennis Weaver?

Yep, it sure is.

 

[yuk]

small pieces make great body dollies for doing body work.

 

[A**holes Garage]

I have a 3' section of rail that my chop saw won't touch or my torch.

Don't have a band saw.

Anvils will have to wait.

 

[lotsoftools]

I just picked up an 18" long piece at an estate sale for $3 to make into an anvil. I used my porta band to do some of the major shaping and was surprised at how easy it cut.

 

[Nick Danger]

I have a 3' section of rail that my chop saw won't touch or my torch.

Don't have a band saw.

Anvils will have to wait.

Check this out:

http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/RR-rail_anvils.htm

 

[A**holes Garage]

Check this out:

http://www.anvilfire.com/FAQs/RR-rail_anvils.htm

yup, familiar with that site

 

[Vegaman_Dan]

A 4.5" tall piece of rail is going to be of lesser use since it would have been used on sidings and is much lighter than you would expect for most lines. It's a good surface to beat on, but doesn't have the mass you'd expect in 100 or 120 pound rail on the mainline.

That said, I would love to have a piece like that to chop in half to put under my railroad motorcar in storage!

 

[Train]

Well I wouldn't rush the decision on what to do with it. Sit at your desk...and drink some wine, while you think about it.

 

[~smokey~]

If I had 30' of old rail track I'd definitely cut er into chunks and make some money selling it, I've had this piece for years can't even remember where I found it, it's 6¾" tall x 6" wide, only 4" long and weighs 14lbs ! you can see the wear the train wheels have made, I tried drilling holes to mount it on the bench but even with a good bit in the drill press I couldn't get through it, it's tough stuff !