RailNews

Norfolk Southern Takes Legal Action in Crosstie Defect Claim

Norfolk Southern made national headlines in November after filing a lawsuit against Boatright Railroad Products, Inc., alleging that the Alabama company failed to properly treat 4.7 million crossties supplied to the railroad. NS states that it has evidence Boatright ordered workers to “make them black by whatever means necessary” so the ties appeared to be treated. Those means reportedly included superficial coatings of motor oil, anti-freeze, and other materials substituted for the standard creosote treatment process. Thus, NS is now dealing with the premature replacement of these ties across portions of its network.

—Scott Lindsey

This article was posted on: November 10, 2017