What are these?

[730 virgil]

Definitely railroad spikes. It looks like the disks were used to identify the date of installation. Different railroads must of used different dating systems. The central Texas railroad that I am familiar with used large , short and galvanized nails with the year stamped in the head. I have several hidden away in some junk drawer. lol BobTx

lots of luck finding them.
i have gone to town more than once for something i knew i had but couldn't find until after i got home.

 

[showcrop]

Definitely railroad spikes. It looks like the disks were used to identify the date of installation. Different railroads must of used different dating systems. The central Texas railroad that I am familiar with used large , short and galvanized nails with the year stamped in the head. I have several hidden away in some junk drawer. lol BobTx

Two inch long railroad spikes?

 

[joeysmith]

We used to give them away. Sometimes even help load them for you. Environmental standards changed and now we have to cut them up and pay someone to dispose of hazardous waste.

They still drop them off at my house if they replace any in the area.
Actually have my name on a list for a few truckloads from some company looking to get rid of them but haven't heard from them in awhile

 

[Steve in VA]

I could tell you a story about the historical things two friends I saw in VA. We took a little hike from Doswell to Gordonsville along the railroad tracks in the mid 90s. Passing through Beaverdam, Bumpass, Mineral and a couple of other towns.

Small world. I lived in Gordonsville and familiar with all the places you name.

 

[Tony in SD]

Definitely railroad spikes. It looks like the disks were used to identify the date of installation. Different railroads must of used different dating systems. The central Texas railroad that I am familiar with used large , short and galvanized nails with the year stamped in the head. I have several hidden away in some junk drawer. lol BobTx

With all due respect, I strongly disagree that they are RR spikes. In my younger days I gauged spiked 1000’s of RR spikes on the Chicago Northwestern RR. Although these square nails are similar in shape, they are much too small to be RR spikes. However they may certainly be date codes that the RR did use to keep tract of the age of the RR ties. No idea what the tags are.

 

[scootergmc]

With all due respect, I strongly disagree that they are RR spikes. In my younger days I gauged spiked 1000’s of RR spikes on the Chicago Northwestern RR. Although these square nails are similar in shape, they are much too small to be RR spikes. However they may certainly be date codes that the RR did use to keep tract of the age of the RR ties. No idea what the tags are.

I think we've nailed down the fact they aren't actual railroad spikes.