How to Remove a Railroad Tie From a Retaining Wall

Retaining walls are aesthetically appealing, as well as practical, for gardens or landscapes where the ground slopes dramatically. Railroad ties are common materials used for retaining walls for their strength and length of each tie. Weighing in at an average of 100 pounds each, railroad ties for retaining walls usually have rebar spikes connecting them. Whether the ties are breaking down due to time and environmental factors or you decide you want to replace them with other materials you’ll need help to remove a railroad tie from a retaining wall.

Work gloves
Shovel
Crowbar
Reciprocating saw
Chainsaw

Instructions

- 1
  Wear work gloves to protect your hands from the pretreated lumber. The ties may feel sticky to touch if they were soaked in creosote.
- 2
  Remove the soil from around the railroad tie with a shovel. You may have to dig down some into the soil, as the heavy railroad ties can settle into the ground over time.
- 3
  Pry the top railroad tie up enough with the crowbar that you can insert the blade on the reciprocating saw.
- 4
  Cut the rebar spikes holding the ties together with the reciprocating saw. There are typically four spikes per 8-foot railroad tie.
- 5
  Pry the tops of the spikes out of the railroad tie with the notched end of the crowbar.
- 6
  Lift the railroad tie up from the other half of the rebar spikes. One person on each side of the tie should be able to lift the wood.
- 7
  Cut the railroad tie in sections with a chainsaw if you don’t plan to reuse the wood. Make a note of rebar locations before you saw the tie.

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