OzDigger
Colonel
- Joined
- Jan 7, 2006
- Messages
- 8,393
As a historical note, the Eucalyptus were first imported by the Southern Pacific Railroad because they grow very rapidly and were to be used for replacement ties. Even today you can see lines of them along former and current rail right-of-ways. However, the wood proved to soft for railroad ties.
Environmental concerns means there is a trend towards concrete sleepers (railway ties) downunder. However many Australian states still use timber. The average service life of a Eucalpt railway sleeper is 20 to 25 years with some seeing out 50 years: http://www.cqfa.com.au/documents/1181619278_sleepers_fact_sheet.pdf