uranium_jones

For those of you concerned, I did not walk the tracks for these. They were discarded further down an embankment near a rail bridge well out of the way. I don't wanna get hit either!

If I were to wire brush some of the rust off of them and then put it in vinegar would that be a way to determine if they are zinc coated?

Thank you all for your suggestions. I updated my location in my profile to Southwestern Wisconsin. I will definitely be using the pipe suggestion!

Beginner blacksmith here. Sorry if this is posted in the wrong section. I have some old railway scrap that I would like to work with. I tried to find info on what the Pandrol clips are made of and came back with 60Si2MnA. Not 100% on that though since I don't know how old these are. My main question is what would be a good way to heat them and straighten them out? Hammer it while heated in a vice to gets the bends relatively open then finish on an anvil? Has anyone ever worked with these? Just looking for tips. Thanks!