Railway Sleeper SIZES and WEIGHTS

The most common LENGTH for railway sleepers is 2.6 metres or 8ft 6″ long.We also stock other railway sleeper sizes such as 2.4m and 3.0m, or 8ft and 10ft.

The most common WIDTH for a railway sleeper is 250mm or 10″.
We have other railway sleeper sizes as well such as 200mm or 300mm, or 8″ / 12″.
The most common THICKNESS of railway sleepers is 125mm & 150mm. (5″ / 6″).Uk railway sleepers tend to be 125mm (5″) & Europe 150mm

{6″).Our selection of railway sleepers is now so varied that you will certainly find something that suits your plans and pocket. Light or dark coloured, square edged or rounded, new or weathered, modern or ‘olde worlde’… it all depends on the visual effect you want, and the type of garden or house you live in. Don’t expect reclaimed railway sleepers to be all the same. They all vary in their own unique way!

THE 3 MOST COMMON TREATMENTS FOR RAILWAY SLEEPERS

1) CREOSOTE TREATMENT – used for over 150 years to lengthen life of timber, but now facing some restrictions. SEE BELOW.
2) ‘GREEN’ PRESSURE TREATMENT – the latest ‘environmentally friendly’ pressure treatment. See below.
3) UNTREATED – some tropical hardwoods are naturally long lasting, & hence need no treatment. See below.

USED RAILWAY SLEEPERS are normally either
a) Creosote treated, e.g. used Dutch Oak and used British pine, or
b) Untreated, e.g. used Australian Jarrah and used African Azobe sleepers. Even though a used railway sleeper is untreated there can occasionally be deposits of oil or diesel on the surface which have fallen from passing trains over the years (not to mention other things!) 

NEW RAILWAY SLEEPERS are normally either
a) Green treated  e.g. new British softwood railway sleepers. These are environmentally friendly non-creosote based preservatives, with treatment names such as ACQ, Tanalith E, Osmose or Wolmanit, all of which are suitable for landscaping projects, or
b) Untreated, e.g. new oak sleepers