DC712001 Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 What type/grade steel are RR Spikes and Tie-Plates produced? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Woody Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 Railroad Spikes are 1018 steel, the HC, Higher Carbon, Railroad Spikes are 1030 steel. Not sure about tie plates, there is a section on this site about railroad steels, do a search and I think you will find it there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC712001 Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 Thanks Woody. I'll try to find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC712001 Posted October 6, 2008 Author Share Posted October 6, 2008 So far...I've been searching with the "Search" feature, but have not located the Railroad Steels File. Where is the link located? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ThomasPowers Posted October 6, 2008 Share Posted October 6, 2008 American Railway Engineering Association's Specifications for Soft-Steel Track S pikes. Original document, 1926, revised last in 1968 Two classes of track spikes are given specifications, both low carbon and high c arbon. Two sizes of track spike are identified, 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 ben t cold through 180 degrees flat on itself without cracking on the outside portio n of the bent portion. Page 5-2-2 Section 11. Marking. A letter or brand indicating the manufacturer sh all be pressed on the head of each spike while it is being formed. When copper i s specified, the letters "CU" shall be added. Page 5-2-3: Specifications for high carbon steel track spikes 1968. Carbon not g reater than 0.30%, nor greater than 0.20% copper. Page 5-2-4. Section 6a. Bendin g properties: The body of a full size finished spike shall stand being bent cold through 120 degrees around a pin, the diameter of which is not greater than the thickness of the spike without cracking on the outside portion of the bent port ion. Page 5-2-5 Section 11. Marking: A letter or brand indicating manufacturer and al so 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" shal l be added." Additionally included in a fax to Mike Blue by the gentleman at Wellington indus tries, a division of Sheffield Steel: "Because of the bending tests required, the carbon content will not be greater t han 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 consequen ces for the industry would be too great to consider. However, we refer to them a s high carbon, they are not within the range of steels known as high carbon or h ypereutectoid according to the steel industry standards, and have not been since at least 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 experien ce 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 spikes end up with plenty carbon to be made serviceable. Which is why we always spark test them first. rail anchors, (the sort of weird J shaped things), are 1040-1060 steel, depending upon manufacturer according to a modern spec Arema (The American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way A ssociation) 2007 document, Part 2 "manufacture 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 orde red. The 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) From: `Locomotive Cyclopedia of American Practice' Seventh Edition, 1925 Compiled and Edited for the American Railway Association Division V, Mechanical Published & printed by Simmons-Boardman Publishing Co., NY. NY. Coupler Knuckle Pivot Pins A.R.A. Standard Adopted 1917; Revised 1924 1. Process: The Steel shall be made by the open hearth process. 3. Chemical Composition: The steel shall conform to the following requirements as to chemical composition: Carbon 0.55-0.70% Manganese, not over 0.60% Phosphorus, Not over 0.05% Sulphur, not over 0.05% Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DC712001 Posted October 7, 2008 Author Share Posted October 7, 2008 Thank You Thomas. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glenn Posted October 7, 2008 Share Posted October 7, 2008 BP0011 Common Railroad Steels Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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