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

"Keith Willshaw" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>
> "Gord Beaman" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > "Keith Willshaw" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> >
> > >
> > >"Chad Irby" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote in message
> > >news:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >> In article <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>,
> > >>  "zolota" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
> > >>
> > >> > Could you kindly explain how fire bombs are the optimum weapon to
> > >destroy a
> > >> > rail yard.
> > >>
> > >> Railroad ties are usually made of wood.
> > >>
> > >
> > >And being made of pine liberally coated in creosote in northern
> > >europe they burn very nicely indeed.
> > >
> > >Keith
> > >
> >
> > Pine?!?...you sure Keith?...pine is an extremely soft wood, the
> > railway ties here in Canada are made of some very hard hardwood
> > and usually is soaked with creosote so I suspect they'd burn
> > rather well with a hell of a heat output. The railway concerns on
> > Prince Edward Island here have moved to greener pastures and torn
> > up all the rail lines. The ties are a dime a dozen, people use
> > them for building posts and foundations. Practically last
> > forever.
> > --
>
> Using tropical hardwoods for railroad ties is a big no-no these days.
> In Britain they used to be made of Jarrah, Oak or some similar hardwood
but
> for main line service have been replaced with concrete these days
>
> Reclaiming railway sleepers (railroad ties in NA speak) is
> a big business these days and they come in all grades and
> materials
>

One of the best kept secrets of WWII was the Allies special smart bomb that
used ground penetrating radar to pinpoint the more easily destructable pine
railroad ties and avoided the more resilient Indonesian mahogany railroad
ties. In terms of 2003 dollars, it cost billions but it was worth it. Not a
single mahogany railroad tie at Dresden was harmed.



> http://www.rbsoak.co.uk/reclaimed-railway-sleepers.html
> http://www.rdgservices.com/sleepers.html
>
> Keith
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