Re: The Effects of a Global Thermonuclear War in 1988 (Re: NuclearWar, 1980's)

Hi all

"Greg Hennessy" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]

<< my previous post snipped>>

> Dunno about germany, but here in the UK any wooden railway sleepers I've
> seen have been soaked in creosote and burn like billy-o as a consequence.

Can't speak for Germany either but here in South Africa I've never seen a
railway sleeper or tie with even so much of a hint of creosote on it. I can
only attribute this to the hardness of the wood used. Nothing that normal
wood needs creosote to protect it against can harm the stuff. I've seen
quite a bit of the older sleepers either still in use or having being turned
into something else. The Burman (or is it Burma-ese) Teek has a wonderful
faded red color after its been weathering for a couple of decades.

The old sleeper wood is very popular nowadays amongst the yuppies for
funiture and garden decor, so you get to see quite a bit of it. Working
(cutting and shaping) with it after its been drying in the South African sun
for a couple of decades is apparently quite a speciality and requires
specialiast tools.

But yes, if the things were soaked or even recently painted in creosote I'd
except them to burn rather well once the fire gets started. I've seen one or
two pine creosoted fences go up in flames, and its not pretty. You don't
want to get caught downwind either. The smoke from a creosote fire is
something else.

>
>
> greg
>
>
> -- 
> In the beginning. Back in nineteen fifty-five
> Man didn't know about a rock 'n' roll show
> And all that jive.


Regards
Frank