Railroad ties are often used as landscaping retaining walls. However, improper use of rail ties can allow catastrophic failure.
Rail ties were used to partially retain a 20 foot tall slope with a creek on low side and a parking lot on the high side. The creek caused erosion under nearby trees and the retaining wall, causing the retaining wall, part of the parking lot, and covered parking structure to fail.
TSA investigated the damage, and determined the cause of the distress.
