In a message dated 11/5/02 3:29:55 PM, [log in to unmask] writes:

<<     Trolley tracks - I am assuming that few foundries in 19th century
America could produce them, probably more in the 20th century. Please note,
in New York City, trolley tracks - many laying beneath asphalt streets -
contain rare metals. The scrap metal value of trolley tracks is VERY high. >>

    This thread raises some interesting facets relating to street railroads
and how they would appear in an archaeological setting.  Street railroads are
usually well preserved because outright removal of the track substructure is
difficult without removing the road surface.  This results in encasement of
the right-of-way by subsequent paving episodes.
    In terms of the previous post, I am curious which rare metals you refer
to.  The rails themselves were, by the mid 19th century, wrought iron, with
steel replacing iron starting in the 1870s and 1880s.  I am not sure exactly
how many rolling mills existed with rail rolling capability during this time,
but from my own personal observations, importation from European sources
seems to have ceased by the 1880s, indicating a large number of domestic
producers.
    I have heard that the New York electric railways constructed in the 1880s
were mandated to run their catenary (positive electric wire) in a manner
similar to cable cars in a trench beneath the road surface.  This was done to
prevent aerial clutter due to overhead catenary, powerlines, phone lines,
etc.  I do not believe this lasted long if at all due to logistics problems.
As far as I know, catenary lines have always been made of pure copper.  This
material is valuable as scrap depending on economic factors.  I assume this
is the material which would be valuable.  Does anyone know if there were any
more valuable alloys in use for this application?

Stathi Pappas

____________________________________________________

Efstathios Pappas
Doctoral Student
Department of Anthropology, 096
University of Nevada, Reno
Reno, NV 89557