The Hitachi people who were here today offered us two railway sleepers they brought with them for the shoot and I’ve said yes, if we don’t want them for the space I’ll gladly take them for the Bessemer school nature garden.
Do we want them? Or shall I take them away? They are truly massive peices of timber.
I can’t imagine we have any use for them at all. We’ve got enough timber as it is, and that’s all in useful sizes! A school garden sounds like a much better destination 
From my limited knowledge of railway sleepers you have to be a little cautious of what they’ve been treated with. Some of the old ‘vintage’ recovered ones can be treated with some nasty chemicals and are best used where bare hands and feet won’t make contact. Of course if these are nice shiny new ones you shouldn’t have a problem.
Also I believe trying to cut them with standard saws is quite a challenge.
I made a really nice garden coffee table with some many years ago
David is correct.
New sleepers are fine.
Hm thanks for the tip @david , it sounds like I may have saddled myself with a problem. If they are creosoted, the internet tells me they definitely shouldn’t be used in a school or playground. And I don’t know how to tell if they are or not, or how old they are.
can we not just use them as a smkokig bench outside or something?
Old sleepes bear the marks and holes of their previous lives. New ones have a nice ‘factory finish’
They are new
The smell can’t be missed
Metal working bench?
If thay are not tanalised
They’d be good for that yeah. I’d up vote that if they’re no good for the kids.
to hell with the kids, metal working bench sounds like a good idea
From my heart: Please please please don’t hang onto things just because they might be useful. Especially big heavy things like railway sleepers. We are extremely space limited and must be vicious with our storage regime.
If, after careful consideration and planning, we decide that we want a metalworking bench, then we source some big heavy bits of wood to make it out of. It’s not expensive, and we can get it in exactly the size we need.
I think that makes sense. They will be pretty annoying to work around / store in the meantime. I was just unable to resist the offer of free huge bits of wood!
The school would like them, so I’ll come down at 11:00 on Sunday with a friend with a van to pick them up.
I know that feeling 
I mean it’s not like the stuff grows on tr…
I then I stop myself 
I deliberately bought a tiny shed for my garden so I couldn’t fill it with scrap wood.