I worked for Southern Pacific RR for 5 years. We use to cut and drill ties fairly often.

If you do need to cut the ties, make sure that there are no rocks embedded into the tie, no date nails, or spikes that might have broken off.

They'll tear your saw blade up in a heart beat.

James Pepper: There's no law west of Dodge and no God west of the Pecos. Right, Mr. Chisum? John Chisum: Wrong, Mr. Pepper. Because no matter where people go, sooner or later there's the law. And sooner or later they find God's already been there.