pip Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 can anyone tell me where i can buy railway sleepers to use in the garden ? Located between Poitiers and Le Blanc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Our local Pole Vert often has them. If you have one locally, you might try them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pip Posted March 6, 2007 Author Share Posted March 6, 2007 Thanks, what is the Pole Vert ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Pip do you really want railway sleepers or landscape sleepers.Railway sleepers may have been creosoted which may not be ideal for garden use. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 R/H, I beg to differ. Railway sleepers are not creosoted - they get like that after years of brake-block dust and diesel from the trains which run over them. This of course may be equally problematical for gardeners - I don't know. They are often made of Jarrah - an Australian timber which is extremely hard wood - just try sawing one in half!!Pole Vert is a sort of agricultural merchants franchise. They are all over the place around here (rather like Gamm Vert). If you have one, they will be in the phone book. Or maybe try Googling? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Frankly I suspect that people use the term creosoted as a short hand for us girlie's who may not understand [;-)]The result though is the same, they can leech and kill plants of a sensitive disposition. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 Our builder got some to delineate a parking area - I can't remember how much, but they were very cheap, and I think from Point Vert. They are weathered and aged but not creosoted.But none of our plantes are of a sensitive disposition... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brian Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 You can of course order them here: www.1000traverses.com/produits.htmAs a railwayman I am aware that many sleepers are also impregnated with other products. Fortunately most modern trains (eg modern TGVs) now have chemical toilets. Many but not all sleepers (dependent on the type of wood) were treated with creosote years ago.Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mark Posted March 6, 2007 Share Posted March 6, 2007 [quote user="Brian"]You can of course order them here: www.1000traverses.com/produits.htmAs a railwayman I am aware that many sleepers are also impregnated with other products. Brian[/quote]Really Brian? I always thought the 'other products' were recycled into the Strongbow cans chilling in the buffet car? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyh4 Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 [quote user="Brian"]You can of course order them here: www.1000traverses.com/produits.htmAs a railwayman I am aware that many sleepers are also impregnated with other products. Fortunately most modern trains (eg modern TGVs) now have chemical toilets. Many but not all sleepers (dependent on the type of wood) were treated with creosote years ago.Brian[/quote] And if they are genuine French railway sleepers they will have had the annual dousing from the weed-killing train. For garden use - avoid. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I have used them as gate posts in the past and have never noticed an asbsence of plant life around them! I guess it just depends what you are using them for and where they are situated in relation to sensitive planting. Nothing sensitive has ever survived my lack of gardening skills though - sleepers or not![:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 I think it depends what the OP wants to use them for, if they have a notion of a sleeper edging with plants tumbling over, or constructing a raised bed then personally I would look for landscape sleepers, if its for something less,(in a planting sense) like Cooperlolas gate posts, then fine.There is a difference in cost between landscape timpers and railway sleepers but its not huge. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracteurtom Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 RH, I've never heard of a landscape sleeper before - is it just a copy of a railway sleeper for landscape gardening? All the treatment a pucca railway sleeper gets means it should last a life time, and of course they are made of very expensive hardwood, money no object. Maybe landscape sleepers, just have a pressure treatment and a 10 year life span?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russethouse Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Last year I wanted raised beds and looked into this. On a visit to the Spring show in Malvern we saw something we liked and the guy who was the designer told us what to look and ask for. They probably are tannelised, but we lined them inside, sides with polythene and can treat the outside with what we want - for now we have left them. I like gardening and sometimes pay a reasonable amount for a different or special variety, I don't want any risk of it dieing through something I could prevent [IMG]http://i5.photobucket.com/albums/y194/russethouse/Patio16.jpg[/IMG] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 We local saw mill sells new oak ones as they supply the railway yards in the Midi-Pyrénées. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jc Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 The railway thro' our village has concrete sleepers but there are a lot of the old ones in the area used mainly as fence posts. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cooperlola Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 Have a look athttp://www.fuchs-entreprise.com/ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mims Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 if you use wooden railway sleepers for garden use remember they are creosoted which is very bad news for plants and wildlife- just a tip i read about-mims Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clair Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 [quote user="mims"]if you use wooden railway sleepers for garden use remember they are creosoted which is very bad news for plants and wildlife- just a tip i read about-mims[/quote]... and round we go! [:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted March 7, 2007 Share Posted March 7, 2007 It's a train set! Someone set the points or it'll last forever! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alison Robinson Posted March 8, 2007 Share Posted March 8, 2007 We have had Railway sleepers from our local Point Vert/ Agrial. Traverses de chemin fer are readily available, prices ranging from 10€ to 17€ depending on quality- depends on what they are being used for. Hubby is a landscape gardener and uses them a lot in the gardens he creates. Plants have never died as a result of coming into contact with the railway sleepers- however I don't think the same should be said if using them near to edible produce. [+o(][:D] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now