Method for preserving wooden cross-tie

A method of preserving the wood near the interface of the adzed surface of a wooden railroad cross-tie and a tie plate during a rail laying or re-laying operation, the cross-tie and tie plate being exposed to moisture during railroad operations, said method comprising:

• providing a pad generally corresponding in size to said adzed surface, said pad consisting of a suspension of a water-soluble fungicide in a binder sandwiched between two layers of a porous hydrophilic backing material, said fungicide leaching from said pad at a controlled rate when water contacts said pad;
• placing the pad on the adzed surface;
• positioning the tie plate and rail on the adzed surface;
• and
• driving the spikes through the tie plates into the cross-tie, with the spikes forming spike holes in the cross-ties whereby said fungicide is transported to the interior of the cross-tie through the spike holes by osmotic pressures and cyclical loading and unloading of the rial caused by the passing of a train expediting dissipation of the fungicide into the cross-tie, said pad being degraded as the fungicide is leached therefrom to thereby facilitate replacement of the pad by a similar pad during subsequent rail relaying operations.