Date Nails

A Date Nail is basically a nail with a number stamped into its head. That number indicates the year that that nail was put into use. For example, the number "20" stamped into the head would indicate the year "1920". Most Date Nails are around 2 to 2 1/2 inches in length with a 1/4 inch shank. The head was usually 1/2 inches and usually round, but other shapes were sometimes used. The purpose of these Date Nails was to indicate the age of railroad ties, bridge beams, telegraph poles and other wooden elements that the railroad used.  Date Nails were used in other industries as well. The most common use for these nails was in railroad ties. When maintenance crews would replace a tie or section of ties, these nails were hammered into the tie to indicate the date that tie went into service. This would allow the railroad to monitor the service life of the tie. This was useful in earlier years when tie manufacturers were using different types of treatments for the wood; the railroads could see which was most effective. Almost all railroads used Date Nails and each railroad usually had their own position in which the nail was placed. Some railroads hammered the nail into the end of the tie. Some on the left side, others on the right side. Other railroads hammered their nails into the top of the ties. Usually a railroad would be consistent as to where they would place these nails so that the maintenance crews could easily locate them years later. It has been said that the El Paso & Southwestern Railroad used both round heads and square heads, each for a different type of application, but all I have ever found was the round type. Most of the nails I have found were in the many miles of barb wire fence line that bordered the old right of way. The fence posts are made of used ties and while looking at the tops of these fence posts, quite often there is a Date Nail hammered into the top.