we found our first rr date nails walking the tracks

chong2 · May 4, 2006

we were just walking not detecting and found these laying on the top. pretty cool being i have never came across these before, my fiance found two side by side

Bavaria Mike · May 5, 2006

Cool finds Chong, I like the date nails. I wonder if they used them in Germany, I know of several railways that have been abandoned. HH, Mike

Michigan Badger · May 5, 2006

Nice spikes.

I just was talking with a fellow this morning and he told me about these. I was surprised to come on here and see your post.

I've dug lots of spikes but never a numbered one. In fact I dug two plain ones this morning.

HH

Badger

chong2 · May 5, 2006

badger, they are alot smaller compared to spikes the ones we found measure 2 1/2" long the head is from 1/2" to 3/4"
Brandon

trk5capt · May 5, 2006

I Think That There Is Some Confusion, These Are RR Nails, Not RR Spikes, The Spikes Were Used To Secure The Rails To The Ties. Just My Two Cents. trk5capt...

chong2 · May 5, 2006

trk5capt, so you mean the pic u just posted is a rr spike right

and what i have found are nails,right

i have grown up thinking the pic u have with the train is a spike

rvbvetter · May 5, 2006

Railroad spikes are much, much larger and are the ones you see on the bottom flange of the rail. Holding the rail in place by the lopsided head of the spike. The spike has a square shank, where as the Date nail has a round shank and is 1/10 the size of a spike and literally is, or resembles a nail. The date nail does not hold anything in place. It is driven into the railroad tie as merely a way of telling the railroad company how long that particular tie has been in service. And to give them a time frame for when that tie should be replaced. HH

rvbvetter · May 5, 2006

Thought I might add, that to the best of my knowledge, they no longer use the date nail system. Not sure what system there using now, but the newer ties don't have date nails in them. I think they stopped using the nails either in the 60's or 70's. So the ties out there with date nails still in them are way way way way overdue for replacement. Some of the most common dates you'll find out there are 28 for 1928 and 36 for 1936. If I remember right, one of the rare dates is 00 for 1900. There's other rare dates too. It's just been so long since I was up on which ones were what. Guess my memories not what it used to be. Actually, I can't remember if my memory was any good then either.
Anyway, the date nails are still out there in fairly large numbers.(no pun intended) and since they are no longer used. I don't think you would have any problems about vandalism. HH

trk5capt · May 5, 2006

chong2mry said:
trk5capt, so you mean the pic u just posted is a rr spike right and what i have found are nails,right
i have grown up thinking the pic u have with the train is a spike

CHONG, Correct The Pic Is A Spike, Used To Secure The Rail To The Tie. The Nails Were Used To Keep Track Of When The Tie Was Laid. trk5capt...

thudson · May 6, 2006

Just so you all know, it Is a low level felony to be caught tresspassing on RR property.
All do to 911 ordeal and the fact that they are trying to protect all the big transportation .
Tyler

Bigcypresshunter · Oct 19, 2006

Found these spikes on an old abandoned 1905 railroad tracks, where a train station and shops once stood during the 1920's Florida land boom. They were burnt down and never rebuilt after the depression. Only an open field remains today. I will go back and look for those dated nails that are probably still there.
Does anyone know what HC means?

Michigan Badger · Oct 19, 2006

Very cool find. I especially like the one marked 48. I was born in 1948.

I've never found one of these but then I guess I never really looked for them. I've dug more than my share of RR spikes.

Nice!

Badger

buscadero · Oct 19, 2006

Big, IF those initials stand for a RR name, here's all the HC's!
Hannibal Connecting: Mo.
Harvey County: Part of AT&SF
Havana Central: Cuba
Hill City: Abandoned
Holiday's Cove: Pa.

Good Hunting! Joe

JerV3 · Oct 19, 2006

Nice nails,

They are worth some money. Me and my brother have found a few along the way. Nice nails that hold up great. I'm sure there are more around.

HH Jer

detector de metales · Oct 20, 2006

Those dated "Nails" are actually Nails not "Spikes" as people are stating. And yes you can get arrested ( if someone dare's bother or the line is a fully functional line) the really nice dated nails are the ones that were used during the war years you will see the change in metal and size. Those are more prized than the regular dated nails.

Just my 3 cents.

Bigcypresshunter · Oct 20, 2006

Im searching an abandoned track.

Postalrevnant · Oct 20, 2006

That's really cool. I have never seen those before.

Congratulations,

Rev

texan connection · Oct 21, 2006

Another Place to hunt for these Nails is Cattle yards and corrals the R/R ties were used alot for post on corrals and fences (and still are), I pulled many from my family's farm, Did know folks collect them, but would like to know what dates are "rare".

DiggingFl · Oct 21, 2006

Nice going. I haven't found one yet. Congratulations

Hardy · Oct 22, 2006

If I was a RR buff, I would buy them off of e-bay!!HH!!!

viper771 · Oct 22, 2006

Ah the date nails are cool!! I used to get those as a kid myself. I think the oldest one I have is from 1918. I don't think they do the date nails in the ties anymore though. But they are worth something.