Forging Carver Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 I recently bought a box of RR spikes on eBay and thought they were bigger than this. Are these the normal size, and if not what's a good seller on eBay to buy from? About 6-1/2 in long and 1/2 in thick on the square part. Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Frosty Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 The lighting in your pics is such I can't read the thickness. Line spikes were typically around 5/8" thick I've seen different versions but I don't believe they were used on the line. Their length was sometimes fairly long probably for spiking through thicker lays of plates, pads or who knows what.Frosty The Lucky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
arkie Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 Those are probably about average. I've seen longer and thinner spikes and some thicker... depends on the RR and the tracks laid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
senstrom Posted August 10, 2015 Share Posted August 10, 2015 made this one with a spike exactly that size Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forging Carver Posted August 10, 2015 Author Share Posted August 10, 2015 made this one with a spike exactly that size wow that is a really nice blade! Thanks for the help Those are probably about average. I've seen longer and thinner spikes and some thicker... depends on the RR and the tracks laid.ok thanksThe lighting in your pics is such I can't read the thickness. Line spikes were typically around 5/8" thick I've seen different versions but I don't believe they were used on the line. Their length was sometimes fairly long probably for spiking through thicker lays of plates, pads or who knows what.Frosty The Lucky.sorry I stink at taking pictures, yeah they are 5/8 inch. Thanks for the help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neg Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 You'd be surprised at how much material is in the last 2 inches of that spike. You can get a pretty good sized blade out of it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
crij Posted August 11, 2015 Share Posted August 11, 2015 Current common size is 5/8 square x 6.5 long, the other size is 9/16 square x 5.5" If you paid less then $1 each you did OK, they are available new for ~$2 each from McMaster.com ($11.76 & $9.87 per pack of 5). IIRC they go for about $1 each when bought from a RR Material supplier in Keg quantities (~200pcs).Even though plenty can be found next to the tracks I would not suggest walking near the tracks picking up spikes, especially in the terrorist scared society we currently live in. Walking in the Right of Way (corridor maintained by the railroad) is considered trespassing, despite the amount of people that do it regularly. If you can, wait until the local railroad is doing tie replacement and talk to the crew during one of their breaks, if they are in a good mood and there is no rumor of a manager or higher visiting the site, you maybe able to get enough used spikes to fill a 5 gal pail if not a pickup bed (I suggest bringing baked items and better then average coffee, but not Yuppie grade...)Rich C.Ct Eastern RR MuseumWillimantic, Ct 06615www.cteastrrmuseum.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forging Carver Posted August 11, 2015 Author Share Posted August 11, 2015 Ok never worked with spikes before.ThanksOk thanks, I paid 12 bucks for 10 including shipping Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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