How long is prototypical rail before it is either bolted or welded into place?
I’ve always heard that a piece of jointed rail normally runs 39ft long. Welded rail depends on how long its made or welded together. According to the December 2004 issue of Trains says a rail plant in Indiana makes welded rail in 240 or 320 foot lengths. It also says a typical string of welded rail is between 1360 and 1600 feet long.
The old, jointed rail was 39 feet long so it could be transported on a 40 foot flatcar. Welded rail normally comes in 1/4 to 1/2 mile long sections, and is sometimes welded on-site into even longer sections as it’s installed.
The other day we saw a NS “rail train” transporting what appeared to be very long sections of rail… perhaps 20 or 30 cars long. I had never seen this before and was amazed that the long sections of rail (all apparently continuous) would flex sufficiently as the train negotiated curves. If this is really what we witnessed, it makes the case for rail sections that are one-quarter or one-half mile in length.
Those who responded stating that standard rail length is 39 feet are correct.
As a former track worker on the BN, that was one or the things we were taught
during our orientation after hiring. The reasons given were also right on the
money. During most of railroading history, the 40 foot car was a standard, so
rail was manufactured to suit.