Exhibits Sleeper Date Nails

Sleeper Date Nails

In earlier days the task of filing records of sleeper laying and/or replacing was not within the scope of the average ganger or permanent way worker. Such information was essential to the Railway’s records to gauge the lasting qualities of various types of timber used in sleepers in different areas.

A departmental official in 1903 referred to an advertisement in a trade magazine relating to the date nails of the company of John Milliken of Belfast, Ireland. Subsequent enquiries revealed that the nails cost £2.5s per cwt, (approximately 4,500 nails). An order was apparently placed for 100,000 in 1904, just the first of many thousands to be imported into New Zealand over the next 23 years.

The head of the nail is ¾ inch in diameter with the shank being 1¼ inch long and approximately ¹/₈ inches square below the head tapering to a blunt point. The head has one or two numerals raised on the surface. These numbers indicate the year in which the particular sleeper was placed in the track and are in direct relation to the year, i.e. 4 indicates 1904, 5 is 1905 and so on.

When Were They Used?: The initial shipment of 4’s was subsequently used up to, and including, 1927. Enquiries were made of gangers as to their needs for 1928 and 1929 but no nails for these years appear to have arrived. Also in 1939 and 1940 it was considered desirable to re-introduce the use of nails, but nothing appears to have come from the proposal, possibly because of wartime conditions.

The continuity of use from 1904-27 is subject to some discussion when 1918 is being considered. Departmental records definitely state that there were no nails used in 1918 and, originally, 1919 but apparently some 19;s became available later as 40,000 are shown as arriving on the "Remuera" ex London. In the same shipment were 60,000 for 1920.

To overcome the lack of 18’s and 19’s, the following provisions were made: to indicate 1918 two nails were to be used with their heads touching, while for 1919 two were to be used also, but one head diameter apart.

Where Are They Found": Very few are to be found in the track now, possibly some sidings which might still have old sleepers. They still do turn up from time to time in fence posts adjacent to the track.

Today they form part of the railway memorabilia that is considered collectable.