(09-12-2015, 01:43 PM)Canard Wrote: I hear you on the practically of custom engineering every tie at a crossover or switch (I'm a mechanical designer), but that's what they've done for the gauntlet track switches (all those ties have a unique part number and are just slightly different). I'd really be surprised if the crossover ended up being wood in the end! I'll have to review and see what's done elsewhere; I don't remember ever seeing a predominantly concrete-tied system switch back to wood for crossovers in my travels.
I knew I'd seen the use of wood for special work somewhere and finally remembered, it was for the TTC streetcar network at http://stevemunro.ca/2009/10/25/streetca...2010-2014/ . It's a bit different as it's embedded track, and switching between steel and wood rather than concrete and wood.
I went looking in the project agreement for details though and you're right, it is temporary. Schedule 15-2 Article 12 Section 10 (e) (iv) C says "All mainline ballasted special trackwork shall use concrete ties. " That's page 24 of the Schedule 15-2 Article 12 PDF on the region's website.
It does give some allowance to Grandlinq for use of wooden ties, saying only "It is preferred that wood ties only be used in those locations which involve only freight railroad service tracks or LRT tracks in the OMSF. " I'm not sure how strongly Grandlinq interprets "preferred" in this context.