22 



THE DUEAND TIE, 



Tbis tie, among the ]atest patented in this country, lias been in use 

 on a private trial line in the French Alps. 



It resembles most nearl3' the *' Post" tie. 



It is produced by converting old rails into metal sheets, from which 

 the tie is stamped out by special machinery, requiring no further shop 

 work than the fastening of the bolts, which are welded to the tie while hot. 



Tbe cross section is of the " Vautherin" or '' Zores'^ type, like the 

 " Post '' tie, narrowed, and depressed in the center and slightly curving 

 towards tlie ends, as well as to the middle of the tie. Lengthwise cor- 

 rugations on the face of the tie under the rail-seat, and if deemed nec- 

 essary, vertical corrugations on the side-faces, are intended to give ad- 

 ditional strength, allowing a saving of metal as against the '-Post*' tie. 

 The width on top under the rail-foot is 10 inches and across the lower 

 edges 12 inches. 



The ends are open but can be closed if desired by a special cap. which 

 is put on after the tie is i^laced and can be easily removed if necessary, 

 permitting access to the lower side, bolts, etc., without removing the tir- 

 entirely. Experience, however, with the opeu-end type seems to have 

 proved thpt the curvature of the ends is sufficient to prevent the blow- 

 ing out of ballast. 



The fastening of the rails is effected by means of four bolts with spe- 

 cially-fitted T-heads, which are inserted and partially v>'elded to the tie 

 from below during its manufacture, and are prevented from turning by 

 a shoulder in the tie. A washer of soft metal is so adapted as to pre- 

 vent any loosening of nuts above, an indentation on the lower side 

 fitting into a similar indentation in the tie, and one llange being bent 

 upwards after screwing down. 



"For curves, switches, etc., the adaptation of shape, inclination, and 

 gauge is eff"ected in the manufacture by interchangeable pieces in the 

 stam|)ing apparatus. 



The placing of the tie is effected by laying it on the ballast and bury- 

 ing it in the same by means of a rocking motion with the help of levers 

 inserted into holes made at the ends of the tie in manufacturing. Xo 

 digging of a tie-bed, no tamping is needed. The drainage, a very im- 

 portant requirement; is well provided for. 



The weight of the tie is made variable by either rolling the metal- 

 sheets to three-sixteenths of an inch, which gives a 03 pound tie, or five- 

 sixteenths of an inch, which will make it about 100 poundSc 



The cost is claimed to be 81 or 81.35 respectively, if manufactured in 

 the United States. The cost of manufacture is calculated at 30 cents, 

 allowing a railroad company to use up the old rails. The plant for roll- 

 ing the rails to shape and stamping the tie is simple; its cost is esti- 

 mated at 85,000. 



The Durand tie, with less metal, promises to give the same strength 

 and is more easily placed than the " Post" tie. — B. E. F. 



