railroad ties are typically soaked in creosote
ext.vt.edu/departments/envirohort/articles/vegetables/contgrdn.html
When using wood products, it is important to avoid those treated with
creosote or pentachlorophenol (Penta). These treatments are toxic to plants
and people.

From HGTV
http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/gl_plants_w...397094,00.html
Can railroad ties treated with creosote leach into the soil and contaminate
vegetables and fruit? Is CCA-treated wood safe to use? Is glyphosate a safe
herbicide? Master gardener Paul James offers his opinion on these
controversial garden issues:
Railroad ties

Are railroad ties safe? At issue is creosote, a powerful preservative that's
applied to railroad ties. Creosote is a thick, oily pungent-smelling liquid
made from the distillation of wood or coal tar. It has been linked to a
number of health problems--including skin and respiratory disorders. If you
were to expose yourself for long periods of time to creosote--especially on
a warm day when it's more volatile--there's a chance you could wind up
needing medical attention.

"If you limit your exposure and wear protective clothing when working with
railroad ties, I don't think there's any great cause for concern," says
James. "I would, however, strongly suggest that you limit the use of
railroad ties to things like retaining walls rather than raised
beds--especially in vegetable gardens. Some chemicals in creosote can leach
out of the railroad ties and into the surrounding soil--chemicals that have
the potential of contaminating food crops."

"Robert11" wrote in message
. ..
Hi,

Have purchased a few old railroad ties that I plan on using
to define some garden area borders.

Being quite old, and previously used, they have several substantial cracks
(checking the right term ?) in them.

Thought it would be a good idea to pour "something" in the cracks to help
hold them together, and as a secondary
consideration to keep moisture from getting inside them and causing more
cracks or enlarging those already there.

So, what should I use to hopefully help hold them together ?

My first thought was epoxy, but I doubt that it is fluid enough to really
get inside deeply.

Would Gorilla Glue bond surfaces with perhaps 1/16 - 1/8 inch gaps ?

Or,... ?

Thanks,
Bob