railroad ties
Rail-supporting crossbeams
Railroad ties are the heavy wooden or concrete beams laid perpendicular to the rails on a railway track, supporting and spacing the rails.
Also called sleepers in British English.
The term appears figuratively for anything providing underlying support or connection: The shared history served as railroad ties binding the two communities.
Wood for construction
- lumberSawn wood for building
- hardwoodDense deciduous timber
- softwoodConiferous tree lumber
- oakQuercus genus member
pine · cedar · creosote · treated wood · concrete · steel · composite · recycled plastic
Unactivated spies or surprise hits
- crosstiesPerpendicular rail supports
- ballastShip stability material
- spikesSharp metal protrusions
- fastenersDevices joining materials
gauge · tamping · alignment · grading · track bed · cribbing · drilling · notching
Path or monitored route
- bridgesStructures spanning obstacles
- trestlesRigid supporting frameworks
- viaductsElevated bridges over valleys
- culvertsTunnels for water flow
embankments · tunnels · right-of-way · mainline · siding · switchyard · junction · railbed
Duration of existence
- wear-resistantAble to withstand friction
- weatherproofResistant to outdoor elements
- rot-resistantUnlikely to decompose
- heavy-dutyBuilt for hard use
load-bearing · stability · resilience · lifespan · degradation · inspection · stress · fatigue
Modifying outdoor areas aesthetically
- garden bordersEdges around planting areas
- retaining wallsStructures resisting lateral soil pressure
- stepsSequential actions in process
- raised bedsElevated soil enclosures for planting
fencing · furniture · rustic decor · planters · edging · reclaimed · upcycled · salvage
timber
Wood for construction
oak · pine · cedar · creosote · treated wood · concrete · steel · composite · recycled plastic · heartwood
sleepers
Unactivated spies or surprise hits
fasteners · gauge · tamping · alignment · grading · track bed · cribbing · drilling · notching · installation
track
Path or monitored route
- bridgesStructures spanning obstacles
- trestlesRigid supporting frameworks
- viaductsElevated bridges over valleys
culverts · embankments · tunnels · right-of-way · mainline · siding · switchyard · junction · railbed · subgrade
longevity
Duration of existence
- wear-resistantAble to withstand friction
- weatherproofResistant to outdoor elements
- rot-resistantUnlikely to decompose
heavy-duty · load-bearing · stability · resilience · lifespan · degradation · inspection · stress · fatigue
landscaping
Modifying outdoor areas aesthetically
- garden bordersEdges around planting areas
- retaining wallsStructures resisting lateral soil pressure
- stepsSequential actions in process
raised beds · fencing · furniture · rustic decor · planters · edging · reclaimed · upcycled · salvage · DIY
- trainstrain, locomotive, locomotives, steam locomotive, steam locomotives
- railroadstrain, tracks, track, locomotive, locomotives
- landscaping suppliesmulch, topsoil, pavers, gravel, sod
- railroad tracksrails, sleepers, cross ties, ballast, spikes
- railwaystrain, locomotives, locomotive, tracks, rails
- timber industrylumber, sawmills, logging camps, lumberjacks, timber trade