what kind of steel is railroad rail

[BeaverDamForge]

Originally Posted by ThomasPowers

SSTreckFus, can you cite the document so I can squirrel that away with my spike specs and clip specs?

I'd be very thankful!

What are the specs for clips? I've never been able to find anything on them.

Thanks and Good Luck!

[ThomasPowers]

From Matt B on Anvilfire 08/08/2007 12:10:21 EDT
"The current standard for rail anchors is 1040-1060 steel, depending upon manufacturer."


rail anchors are what we generally call "clips".

and for the entire file on Spikes, Rail and Clips:

American Railway Engineering Association's Specifications for Soft-Steel Track Spikes. Original document, 1926, revised la
st in 1968

Two classes of track spikes are given specifications, both low carbon and high carbon. Two sizes of track spike are identi
fied, one of 5/8 inch square shaft and one of 9/16 inch.

Page 5-2-1. "A low carbon track spike will not contain greater than 0.12% carbon nor greater than 0.20% copper.

Page 5-2-2. Section 6a.
Bending properties: The body of a full size finished spike shall stand being bent cold through 180 degrees flat on itself
without cracking on the outside portion of the bent portion.

Page 5-2-2 Section 11. Marking. A letter or brand indicating the manufacturer shall be pressed on the head of each spike w
hile it is being formed. When copper is specified, the letters "CU" shall be added.

Page 5-2-3: Specifications for high carbon steel track spikes 1968. Carbon not greater than 0.30%, nor greater than 0.20%
copper. Page 5-2-4. Section 6a. Bending properties: The body of a full size finished spike shall stand being bent cold thr
ough 120 degrees around a pin, the diameter of which is not greater than the thickness of the spike without cracking on th
e outside portion of the bent portion.

Page 5-2-5 Section 11. Marking: A letter or brand indicating manufacturer and also the letters "HC" indicating high carbon
, shall be pressed on the head of each spike while it is being formed. When copper is specified, the letters "CU" shall be
added."

Additionally included in a fax to Mike Blue by the gentleman at Wellington industries, a division of Sheffield Steel:
"Because of the bending tests required, the carbon content will not be greater than 0.30%. After all, brittle spikes would
not be desirable as a track spike. A bent spike still holds the rail while a fractured spike would not. The consequences
for the industry would be too great to consider. However, we refer to them as high carbon, they are not within the range o
f steels known as high carbon or hypereutectoid according to the steel industry standards, and have not been since at leas
t 1926, when most track spikes were previously manufactured from wrought iron."

Of course, while some people will say .30% is bad, I know from personal experience that a well made spike knife will take
a good edge. It's very likely that the document lays out desired guidelines, but the margin for error is high and some spi
kes end up with plenty carbon to be made serviceable. Which is why we always spark test them first.


From Matt B on Anvilfire 08/08/2007 12:10:21 EDT
"The current standard for rail anchors is 1040-1060 steel, depending upon manufacturer."


I am citing the Arema (The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association) 2007 document, Part 2 "manufac
ture of Rail"

Standard rail steel:
.74 to.86% Carbon,
.75 to 1.25% Manganese,
.10 to .60% Silicon
Minimum Brinell (of unhardened surface) 310 or 370 dependant of grade ordered.

Low Alloy Rail Steel
.72 to .82% Carbon,
.80 to 1.10% Manganese,
.25 to .40& Chromium,
.10 to .50% Silicon
Minimum Brinell (of unhardened surface) 310, 325, or 370 dependant of grade ordered.
My document shows the following breakdown for grades:
SS = standard strength (brinell 310)
HH = Head Hardened (brinell 370)
LA = Low Alloy Standard Strength (brinell 310)
IH = Low Alloy Intermediate (brinell 325)
LH = Low Alloy Head Hardened (brinell 370)

[Bob Hensley]

What about the baseplates (or tie plates) that the rails ride in on the crossties? Any info on composition, or suggestions for usage? I have just located a stash of them, and will snap them up if they can be useful to a beginning smith.

[Glenn]

Make great feet for tables, weld a bunch together for a cheap acorn platen table etc etc.