For the most part, what type of stone did most railroads use to make retaining walls? I'm shur they used mostky what they had on hand. I would think granite would be used before a softer stone such as sandstone.
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Macado:
PRR primarily used sandstone since that was readily available in Pennsylvania. In fact, not only did they use it in retaining walls, it was also used in tunnel portals and bridges. The Rockville Bridge (the exterior portions, at least) is constructed from sandstone.
Curt
The N&W and NS use(d) brick and granite .I've even seen rock overhangs being held up by rails.
In the last decade or so the NS has been using old concrete cross ties to shur up rocks and hill sides.
They also pile drive rails deep in the ground along the hill sides and fill with large stones behind them to build up slip prone areas.
