Staking a Railroad Tie on a Retaining Wall

Nov 23, 2011
Robin Gonyo

Railroad ties like these may be attached to top of retaining walls. - Ian Britton

This article outlines the steps required to stake a railroad tie on a retaining wall. It also lists all required materials to complete the task.

Things You'll Need

Shovel
Tape measure
4-foot level
Hand tamper
3/4-inch gravel
Drill
9/16-inch drill bit
Rebar
Hacksaw
Sledgehammer
Landscaping screws
Impact driver

Introduction

Railroad ties come in 8-foot-long sections. They are commonly stacked together in front of a slope to form a retaining wall. However, railroad ties alone do not hold back the soil and the entire wall is only as strong as its base layer. To make that base layer as sturdy as possible, it needs to be staked in place. Rebar -- a metal rod -- is commonly used to stake the base row at various intervals.

Step 1

Dig a 12-inch deep trench where you wish to build the railroad tie retaining wall. Lay a level in the trench to ensure it does not slope one way or the other. Tamp down the trench with a hand tamper.

Step 2

Pour 3/4-inch gravel into the trench and spread it out into an even 6-inch layer. Tamp the gravel down with a hand tamper.

Step 3

Drill a 9/16-inch pilot hole through one railroad tie, approximately 1 foot from the end. Move down about 18 inches and drill another hole. Then move down another 18 inches for the next hole and so on, until you reach 12 inches from the tie's opposite end.

Step 4

Set the railroad tie in the trench, on the gravel. Lay a 4-foot level on the railroad tie. Adjust the gravel underneath the railroad tie, if necessary, so it sits flat.

Step 5

Cut rebar into 4-foot long sections with a hacksaw. Insert a rebar section into the first pilot hole. Hammer the rebar down using a sledgehammer, until its top is flush with the railroad tie's top. Repeat with the remaining pilot holes and rebar sections.

Step 6

Lay more railroad ties on top of the first row, to create the second row. Stagger the places where the railroad ties meet in the second row about 4 feet from where they meet in the first row, to build a stronger retaining wall. Drive landscaping screws through both rows of the railroad ties, using an impact driver, to secure them together. Place the screws about 8 inches in from either end and one or two more screws equally spaced between the two end screws. If the retaining wall turns at a 90-degree angle, use a screw to connect the second row to the side wall -- the wall running perpendicular to the railroad tie -- as well.

Step 7

Repeat Step 6 to secure the retaining wall's third row of railroad ties to the second row. And again for each row until the wall is complete.

Robin Gonyo - Robin Gonyo has been writing for several years now. She has a deep love for gardening and has spent a vast amount of time researching that ...