Stacked railway tie

A stacked railway tie comprising:

• a base deck having a convex primary surface;
• a top deck positioned above the base deck, the top deck having a concave primary surface defining a void in the top deck, wherein the top deck is adapted to receive the convex primary surface of the base deck within the void such that the base deck is at least partially nested within the top deck, and wherein the top deck is configured to facilitate distribution of a load from the top deck to the base deck;
• and
• a first fastening system configured to couple the top deck to the base deck.

A height adjustable railway tie for reducing ballast migration in areas where the crib is reduced or removed in order to accommodate additional railway equipment, the railway tie comprising:

• a base deck having a convex upper surface;
• a first top deck coupled to the base deck, wherein the first top deck has a concave lower surface defining a void and is coupled to the base deck such that the convex upper surface of the base deck is nested at least partially within the void of the first top deck, the first top deck being configured to have a first rail linked thereto;
• a second top deck nested over and coupled to the base deck, the second top deck being configured to have a second rail linked thereto;
• and
• at least one spacer positioned between the base deck and the first and second top decks, such that the at least one spacer offsets the first and second top decks from the base deck, wherein the at least one spacer is adapted to individually adjust the offset between (i) the first top deck and the base deck, and (ii) the second top deck and the base deck.

A stacked railway tie comprising:

• a substantially rigid base deck having a convex upper surface,
• a ballast displacement system secured to the underside of the base deck, wherein the ballast displacement system is configured to facilitate distribution of a load on the base deck to ballast positioned beneath the base deck;
• and
• a top deck including a concave lower surface defining a void, the top deck coupled to the base deck in such a manner that the convex upper surface of the substantially rigid base deck is at least partially disposed within the void in the top deck, wherein the top deck is configured to facilitate coupling of a rail to the base deck.

A method for making a stacked railway tie comprising the steps of:

• providing a base deck having a convex upper surface;
• placing at least one spacer on the base deck;
• stacking a top deck on the base deck, such that the spacer is positioned between the base deck and the top deck, wherein the top deck has a concave lower surface defining a void, and wherein stacking the top deck on the base deck causes the upper surface of the base deck to be least partially nested within the void of the top deck;
• coupling the top deck to the base deck;
• and
• coupling a rail to the top deck, such that the rail is coupled to the base deck.

A method for distributing a load between a stacked railway tie and ballast, comprising the steps of:

• providing a base deck that is configured to receive a top deck thereon, the base deck including a convex upper surface and the top deck including a concave lower surface that defines a void;
• configuring the base deck to receive a top deck;
• coupling the top deck to the base deck such that the convex upper surface of the base deck is positioned at least partially within the void of the top deck;
• configuring the top deck to distribute a load to the base deck;
• and
• placing a ballast displacement system in communication with the base deck, wherein the ballast displacement system is adapted to distribute the load on the base deck to ballast.