Train tracks

[Scrap man]

Edit:



NEVER MIND!!! STEALING STUFF FROM TRAIN TRACKS IS ILLEGAL!!!! DON'T DO IT!!!!

[TheMetalizer]

Taking that metal is illegal. Don't do it!

[Destructo_d]

I second that motion. The scrap yards know what type of steel the rail roads have, there is even a poster with pictures of different steel items on it from the rail roads. It says if anything that comes in, other than from the railway itself, then it is stolen... even the local railway police keep regular contact with my scrap yard

[Scrap man]

Yeah, I didn't take it because I didn't know the rules about taking it and I hoped someone on here would clarify whether it was legal or not. Sucks to waste it though. It looks pretty old like it's been there a long time.

[Mick]

I was offered some pieces of track that had been abandoned and were on private property. It was part of a track that had gone to a warehouse. I called the scrap yard about what I needed to do. I was told that the name of the original owner would be stamped on each piece, somewhere. I'd need a signed release from them. Even if the company was defunct, I'd still need the release so, in effect, the track of a defunct company cannot be moved unless its equipment was legally taken over by another company. Then, you'd need that court order plus a release from the second company. The track is still sitting there.

[Ditchdigger]

That's interesting.

Over the years, I've done a lot of digging on old industrial sites, and consequently, have dug up a lot of old railroad related iron. Now, I've never taken in more than a couple hundred pounds at any one time, (because that's all I ever had at any one time), but I've never been questioned about it. As a matter of fact, the one time I took in maybe about ten feet of actual rail, I was told that if I got any great quantity of it, to keep it separate, because it was worth a little more than just the price of the #2 iron it was mixed in with...

[wayne1956]

Here in TX most scrap yards have a sign posted that they will not take any railroad related metal as it is illegal to scrap. I just wonder what railroads do with their bent rails and spikes (and etc) that are no longer any good. I assume they probably send their stuff directly to a foundry (or wherever the metal is melted).

[tjlock]

Our scrap yard has a sign posted on that as well. When I was a kid, they tore up a set of tracks that were no longer in use. They made a walking trail where it used to run and we would walk it and think of how much we could get to scrap them. Then we happened to take cans in and seen a posting about the tracks in that scrap yard and we asked why. After we got told the answer, we decided that we better not. All those spikes, I bet we piled up a few hundred pounds in just a short section and had to walk away.

[decjr2006]

i have a freind who is an experienced scrapper and he said someone from csx told him that he is allowed to take anything more then 4ft off the tracks,he has turned in stuff from from tracks has recieved grief from local law enforcement once when trying to pick up... he also said that it is common to find old dump sites along the tracks he rides his dirtbike up and down them in our area to look for junk. one spot we split was on a farm where people had been dumping for years it was about 500 feet long 40 wide full of junk, appliances, old cars, soda machines....... theres also an old train wreck we want to clean up and some old abandoned rail cars in the area but we cant seem to find anyone that will give us a yes or no on cleaning it up

[TheMetalizer]

i have a freind who is an experienced scrapper and he said someone from csx told him that he is allowed to take anything more then 4ft off the tracks,he has turned in stuff from from tracks has recieved grief from local law enforcement once when trying to pick up... he also said that it is common to find old dump sites along the tracks he rides his dirtbike up and down them in our area to look for junk. one spot we split was on a farm where people had been dumping for years it was about 500 feet long 40 wide full of junk, appliances, old cars, soda machines....... theres also an old train wreck we want to clean up and some old abandoned rail cars in the area but we cant seem to find anyone that will give us a yes or no on cleaning it up

That's an incredible find!

[NJSouth]

Hey Everyone, I'm new here but not new to scrapping. I am also NEW to the railroad industry as I just started working on the railroad for last two months... Guys.. it is a SCRAPPERS PARADISE!!! And I'm NOT talkng about stealing ANYTHING. I'm working in the Philly area so keep that in mind. We've been riding the rails (right of way) aka on the side of the tracks.. You cannot believe what people dump down there. For me its great for society it sucks because people are disgusting pigs.
That being said it is "technichally" illegal to trespass on railroad property however if you are close, wander down and happen to see whats down there its amazing. Just the aluminum cans alone will be a chunk of money. I found a still certified, aluminum Oxygen tank that I collected. I've been with a training partner so he thinks I'm a little goofy. People dump everything along the tracks in areas closer to the cities. How any homeless bum cant make some money is beyond me. Oh and collecting the metal spray paint cans the taggers use... metal equals money!! Shopping carts, rims, appliances, its all there. Just don't take the railroads stuff. Good luck with it and PM me with any questions on the railroad laws. All the best.

[jimmysgirl]

Curious then about piles of disgarded, rusted spikes and small parts that have been tossed aside after replaced? Found large piles along track lines in my area, and need to know if these are cleaned up by the railroad company, or can they be taken to scrap yard for money?

[Mechanic688]

http://www.scrapmetalforum.com/showt...ned-Rail-Lines
you might want to read this, i think your answer is there.

[IdahoScrapper]

http://forums.barrelhorseworld.com/f...297632&start=1

[EcoSafe]

ever heard of the Harrimans, Rockafellers, or the Carnagies, they were the rail road and steel tycoons back in the late 1800, they ran the government then just as they do today, so thus the laws agains taking any thing railroad.

[Big Tex]

Just purchased some land from RR about 6 months ago. It's a railroad graveyard! My yard told me all I needed was signed document from RR stating I own the scrap. I'll let yall know how it goes........

[Junkernaut]

Thats lame! I have a few pieces myself and this blows I cannot take it in. Might as well just throw it down a rabbit hole I find.

[HaulinHeiny]

I think its kind of a matter of scale. If you have a few pieces (<100#) per ton, I think MOST yards around here (Southeast Minnesota) would just let it through. I also heard many years ago that some RR's hire contractors to pick up their scrap.
It is also possible that the exact laws regarding railroad iron is different in each state.

[IdahoScrapper]

Mix it in with your regular scrap. Doubt anyone will say boo. Now if you were to start hauling in tons of rail, some eyebrows will be raised. Or even A piece of rail I imagine they will ask questions.

My grandpa had a short piece that he used for an anvil. I wonder where he acquired it from.

[mrbillbus]

My grandpa had a piece about 16" long that was left over from a area rebuild. With the curves and such, there will be places where a rail needs to be shortened to fit. He used his as a boat anchor and anvil. Heavy sucker for a 10 year old on anchor duty!