[TheForge] A small score - railroad spikes.

[dann]

Dave,

A note of caution, even if the railroad went through   bankruptcy,  some 
one  owns the old railroad right of way, including the ties, rails, and 
spikes. A visit to the tax assessor, or  auditors's office  makes 
identifying  ownership easy, using  large aerial maps, delineated 
with  ownership.   I got a little more sensitive to this issue after 
running off the same thief   on several occasions from stealing  stuff 
off  my "abandoned" farm site.  We pressed charges and had him arrested.

Rather than risk  trespassing and theft charges, you might find that spikes 
are available  for  scrap price  at  junk yards.   I  heard that it 
was  something like $5 for a  big  bucket full .  Anyway  last fall,   I 
traded  a hand  made rope for a big  bucket of railroad spikes.

Dann Johnson