Anyone know of a good way (or resource) to identify approx age/type of a railroad spike? We found a couple while putting in a planter that are clearly smaller with a round head. They definitely have some deterioration and no identifying marks were found. Our property is near a current set of railroad tracks. Thanks.
Railroad Spikes
- Thread starter 'borohunter
- Start date
Smo
Well-Known Member
How small? I had one once about three inches long and maybe 3/8 " thick.
Can you post a photo of it?
Can you post a photo of it?
Sure - just tried to add... Spikes are 5" and have a rounded head of about 1". Guess I'm used to seeing the spikes with the head offset to hold the track/rail on the side.
May not be a railroad spike at all for that matter. Considering it's proximity to a current RR track made sense to me. Any thought are most welcome.
Wiley
Well-Known Member
Back in the day, farmers used drag harrows to break up clods and level the seedbed and those harrows had very similar spikes.
Makes sense. My daughters and I began looking a bit more closely and found more spikes - some clearly railroad and more like this...
