Crossties Magazine
The RTA works to keep tie markets strong and healthy through the active and responsible promotion of the wood crosstie, product improvement engineering, communication across the rail industry network and a steady flow of useful information published in Crossties. RTA's mission is to enhance the potential for our members' products and be sure those products meet the market's demands. The RTA is the network designed to expand tie markets domestically and globally. RTA publishes the highly regarded bimonthly magazine, Crossties, which covers all aspects of the wood crosstie industry. Membership in RTA entitles you to receive this publication at no additional charge.
Selected articles from Crossties Magazine are also available online. Below is the list of issues currently available.
New features and articles in the latest issue of Crossties magazine

Click on any issue to access a full digital version
Click here to view archived digital editions of Crossties from December 2011-present
July/August 2023 May/June 2023 March/April 2023 January/February 2023 November/December 2022 September/October 2022 July/August 2022 May/June 2022
July/August 2023
Conference Registration Open Field Trip Recap Impacts of Low-Grade Markets and Growing the Market for Treated Hardwood
May/June 2023
Mid-Year Market Report Railroad Advocacy Day Historical Perspective
March/April 2023
Tie Grading Seminar Recap RTA-MSU-AWPRP Update Netterville Lumber Profile
January/February 2023
Market Outlook Sort Line Update Clean Water Act
November/December 2022
Interview with RTA President Dave Koch Conference Recap Grading Rules and the Tie Industry
September/October 2022 Market Outlook Tie Grading Seminar Recap Award and Scholarship Winners
July/August 2022 Field Trip Recap Industry Updates Yellow Poplar Ties Part II
May/June 2022 Market Outlook Hardwoods Deliver Solutions Yellow Poplar Ties
March/April 2022 Railroad Day on the Hill Employment Situation Analysis Wood Treatment in the 20th Century
January/February 2022 Market Outlook An Interview with Chuck Baker RTA Partnerships and Benefits
November/December 2021
Interview with RTA President, Rick Gibson RTA Conference Photos Conference Recap September/October 2021 Tie Demand Outlook Tie Grading Seminar Recap Creosote Treated Wood and the American Southwest July/August 2021 Tie Prices Conference Overview Research Review
May/June 2021
Railroad Day on the Hill Recap Tie Grading Seminar Information Environmental Regulatory Update
March/April 2021 Why Railroads Specify Creosote Railroad Day and ASLRRA Used Tie Research
January/February 2021 Tie Forecast In-Person Meetings Tier II Reporting
November/December 2020 President's Message Conference Recap Hardwood Federation Update
September/October 2020 Tie Forecast Creosote: Prescription Part II Conference Information
July/August 2020
2020 RTA Conference History, Use & Health Effects of Creosote Clock Dating
May/June 2020
March/April 2020
Tribute to Retiring Executive Director Jim Gauntt Board Road & Crane Mat Grade Hardwood Lumber Market Update
January/February 2020
Disruptive 25 Years Market Outlook SelecTie III
November/December 2019
Search for Executive Director Q&A with Bill Behan Conference Recap
September/October 2019
Tie Grading Seminar Market Outlook You Are Your Own Superpower
July/August 2019
Field Trip Benefits of Creosote Treated Wood Tie Supply Deeper Dive
May/June 2019
Tie Supply Update Railroad Day on the Hill Annual Conference
March/April 2019
Market Outlook Open Top Loading Rules Resource Analysis
January/February 2019
Economic Forecast ASLRRA Interview Hardwood Federation Report
November/December 2018
Conference Recap Executive Update Tie Recovery Research
September/October 2018
Tie Grading Seminar Market Outlook Hardwood Federation Fly-In
July/August 2018
Field Trip ASLRRA Economic Impact Report Farm Bill
May/June 2018
Market Update RTA, EPA & Wood Preservation Annual Conference
March/April 2018
Railroad Day Recap Hardwood Federation Update HMA Conference Highlights
January/February 2018
Economic Forecast ASLRRA Initiatives Tax and Export Highlights
Special: NHSM Rule Revision
November/December 2017
Conference Recap RTA President Q&A Economic Update
September/October 2017
Tie Grading Seminar Market Outlook University of Tennessee Research
July/August 2017
Field Trip Resilient Forests Act WWPI/OSU Collaboration
May/June 2017
Market Update RTA at 98, Part II 2017 Conference in San Diego, California
March/April 2017
Railroad Day on the Hill RTA is 98 Years Young Sawmill Focus
January/February 2017
2017 Market Outlook Shortline Association Look Ahead Hardwood Federation Plans
November/December 2016
Conference Recap RTA President Q&A Election Commentary
September/October 2016
Market Outlook Tie Grading Seminar Scholarships
July/August 2016
Market Update Field Trip Innovative RTA Apps
May/June 2016
Market Update 2016 Freight Railroad Capex Analysis 2016 Conference in Bonita Springs, Florida
March/April 2016
Northern Long-Eared Bat Sawmill Focus Railroad Day on the Hill
January/February 2016
2015 Market Outlook USDA Forest/Timberland Tool Shortline Association Look Ahead Hardwood Federation Goals
November/December 2015
2015 Conference Speaker Recap 2015 Conference Photos President's Q&A
September/October 2015
Market Outlook Tie Grading Seminar
July/August 2015
Market Update Railroad Day On The Hill Field Trip
May/June 2015
Market Update Interview with the Hardwood Federation's Dana Lee Cole 2015 Conference in Tucson
March/April 2015
Capex Update Sawmill Focus Sustainability Statement
January/February 2015
2015 Market Outlook New Photo Guide on Tie Defects in Development Shortline Association Goals
November/December 2014
2014 Conference Speaker Recap 2014 Conference Photos President's Q&A
September/October 2014
Market Outlook Tie Grading Seminar
July/August 2014
Hardwood Market Update Field Trip
May/June 2014
Market Update Hardwood Checkoff Update 2014 Conference in Orlando
March/April 2014
Railroad Day on the Hill Capex Update Swamp Logging & Sawmill Profile
January/February 2014
2014 market Outlook 45G Tax Credit Extension Hardwood Check-Off Letter
November/December 2013
2013 Conference Photos 2013 Conference Speaker Quotes Hardwood Check-Off Information
September/October 2013
Market Outlook & Tie Surveys
Tie Grading Seminar
July/August 2013
2013 RTA Field Trip Hardwood Market Update
May/June 2013
Market Update 2013 Conference at Lake Tahoe
March/April 2013
Railroad Day on the Hill CAPEX Update
January/February 2013
Forecast Article NRC Conference ASLRRA and RTA Partner on 45G Tax Credit
November/December 2012
2012 Conference Photos 2012 Conference Speaker Quotes Interview with RTA President Jeff Parrett
September/October 2012
2012 Tie Surveys and Market Outlook RTA Tie Grading Seminar Report
July/August 2012
2012 Field Trip RTA's New Interactive Website
May/June 2012
Prospects For Growth Photo Contest Winners 94th Annual Symposium and Technical Conference
March/April 2012
Sawmill Focus-2 Cents a Tie Railroad Day on the Hill
January/February 2012
Forecast Articles Norfolk Southern Leads the Way NRC Conference
November/December 2011
2011 Conference Photos 2011 Conference Speaker Quotes Photo contest- The Treated Tie
September/October 2011
2011 Annual Tie Surveys and Market Outlook Tie Grading Seminar Report
July/August 2011
Railroad Day on the Hill Memberwide Field Trip Photo Contest- The Untreated Tie
May/June 2011
Crossties Forecast: A Bump in the Road RTA Photo Contest Tells Story of the Sawmill Operation RTA & Tahoe...An Awesome Combination
March/April 2011
Protecting Wooden Railway Infrastructure for Next Generation RTA's NEW Photo Contest!
January/February 2011
Market Outlook 2011 Short Lines Ready for Challenging Year AAR Chief Addresses Railroad Growth & Challenges
November/December 2010
Branson, MO Conference Re-cap What the Speakers Had to Say Q&A With New RTA President, Jeff Broadfoot
September/October 2010
2010 Annual Tie Surveys and Market Outlook Tie Grading Seminar Report
July/August 2010
Add PTC, Subtract Tax Credit Is This Recovery? 2010 RTA Field Trip Recap
May/June 2010
Nostalgia and the Future Tie Grading Article Conference Article
March/April 2010
Creosote Treated Ties: An End-of-Life Tie Evaluation Winter Field Trip to Cordele, GA
January/February 2010
Recovery and Beyond Looking to the Future AAR Discusses Future Prosperity of Nation's Railroads
November/December 2009
Baltimore Conference Highlights What the Speakers Said Tie Dual Treatments
September/October 2009
2009 Annual Tie Surveys & Market Outlook Tie Grading Seminar Recap
July/August 2009
RTA Member-Wide Field Trip to Canada Creosote Posts 50 Years Later Update On Tie Market Projections
May/June 2009
Sawmill Member Drive a Success RTA Heads to Baltimore for Annual Conference Register Today for RTA Annual Tie Grading Seminar
March/April 2009
2009 Railroad Day on the Hill RTA Member Drive The Tie Grading Seminar is Coming!
January/February 2009
Market Outlook for Ties in 2009 Market Forecast for 2009 EPA Approves Continued Registration of Creosote
November/December 2008
2008 RTA Conference Story What the Conference Presenters Said
September/October 2008
2008 Annual RTA Tie Surveys Tie Grading Seminar in Alabama
July/August 2008
Field Trip 2008 Letter from Executive Director, Jim Gauntt Mid-Year Outlook
May/June 2008
Effects of Fuel Prices Tie Grading Seminar Article Savannah Conference Article
March/April 2008
Field Trip 2008 Railroad Day on the Hill Tie Grading 2008
January/February 2008
Forecast Article for 2008 - Jim Gauntt Market Outlook - Fred Norrell
November/December 2007
Conference 2007 Story What They Said Article
September/October 2007
Annual Tie Surveys 2007 Creosote Council Responds Tie Grading 2007
July/August 2007
2007 Field Trip Creosote Treated Wood Safe to Use Mid-Year Forecast of New Wood Ties
May/June 2007
Borate-Creosote Electrical Impedance Update Creosote Supply - A Year Later
March/April 2007
The End is Near...Again Railroad Day on the Hill 2007 2007 RTA Member-Wide Field Trip
January/February 2007
Hot Today, Cooling Tomorrow Use of Track Strength Data to Optimize Tie Replacement Requirements Development of Comparative Crosstie Unit Costs & Value January 2007 Forecast
November/December 2006
SelecTie Update What They Said
September/October 2006
Tie Grading Seminar Market Outlook New Member Benefit
July/August 2006
June 2006 Field Trip Midyear Market Outlook Amburgey & Kitchens Article Re: Quality Control
May/June 2006
RTA Presentation at AWPA Conference Interview with Dr. Patrick Moore
March/April 2006
Member Field Trip in SD & WY Areas Scheduled for June '06 2006 Railroad Day on the Hill Big Success
January/February 2006
Forecast Articles Market Outlook
November/December 2005
What They Said A Tipping Point for Short Lines
September/October 2005
Wood Increases Market Share RTA Foresees Even Stronger Demand for Ties DuBois and Burke-Parsons-Bowlby Score an "A" with RTA Tie Graders Market Outlook: Tie Purchases Achieve Historic HIgh, Models Say Look for More of the Same
July/August 2005
2005 Field Trip - "Sweet Home Alabama" Seaman Timber Company - Celebrates Golden Year
May/June 2005
Short Lines and Tax Changes Looking Back Ten Years by Jim Gauntt
March/April 2005
Science Fair Borate
January/February 2005
Market Outlook 2005 No Stopping This Train
November/December 2004
Railroad Tax Credit Signed Into Law What They Said
September/October 2004
Tied Up Steady as She Grows
July/August 2004
Field Trip Cradle to Grave Approach Wood Waste Recyclers
May/June 2004
A Rocky Mountain Convention
March/April 2004
A New Era in Tie Demand A Long Range Forecast
January/February 2004
Market Outlook 2004 New VICTOR Fastening System
November/December 2003
Convention Coverage What They Said
September/October 2003
Tie Grading Seminar Forestry Scholarship Winner 2003 Tie Surveys
July/August 2003
Market Report Field Trip Wendell Cox Address at Convention 85th Convention in Charleston, SC
May/June 2003
15 Year Exposure Charleston
March/April 2003
Field Trip Announcement Tie Grading Seminar
January/February 2003
Ties and Trains Keep Rolling Research Into Pre-Treatments Tie Report
November/December 2002
Convention Zeta-Tech
September/October 2002
2002 Tie Surveys and Charts Forestry Scholarship Winners Tie Grading Seminar
July/August 2002
Convention Article 2002 Crunch Time
May/June 2002
RTA Works Hill for Railroads
March/April 2002
To Borate or Not to Borate Forward to Wisconsin
January/February 2002
Brighter Horizons for Tie Producers
November/December 2001
One to Remember
September/October 2001
2001 Annual Tie Surveys
July/August 2001
Train, Trackwork, and Ties
May/June 2001
Growing Stronger Together
March/April 2001
Meet RTA in St. Louis
September/October 2000
Stop! Go! Proceed with ...Optimism?
July/August 2000
RTA Convention VSE
May/June 2000
RTA on Track with Engineering Seminar
January/February 2000
The Legacy of the Wood Crosstie
July/August 1999
RTA Field Trip: 600 Miles and Two States in Two Days
March/April 1999
Short Line and Regional Railroads Seek Growth
July/August 1998
A Study in Coal Tar Distillation by Richard Harris of Koppers Industries
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