About used crossties...

[J. T.]

Don't use them! In addition to rotting poles made of PT Southern Yellow Pine on my barn, I have some used crossties that I sunk in the ground for catch pens and corner braces years ago and some of them have rotted as well. Not enough creosote left in them after the railroad tosses them. You get what you pay for, cheap ties that rot, expensive creoste poles that don't.

 

[Herefordcross]

We have two buildings built out of cross ties laid horizontally, they were switch ties 16-19' long and they are starting to rot at the ground and they've been there for about eighteen years.

 

[Fred]

Most used crossties aren't worth putting in the ground.Lots of times they will be rotten after less than 10 years. The only ones worth using are the ones still pretty new that have no cracks and are solid.

 

[Jogeephus]

As for PT poles. There are different degrees or grades of treatment. Codes should be stamped on the side of pole indicating type treatment used.