What kind of steel are the rails made from?

Trains Magazine General Discussion
41

[I’m gonna try this response for the 3rd time today - shortest yet this time so in case it disappears I’m not losing that much effort . . . [%-)] ]

Only about 3/4 of an inch ! Just a little deeper than the standard point where the gage is measured - which is at 5/8" below the top - for a new rail, and not even as deep as the nominal wheel flange depth of 1 inch. So, as the gage face wears away (from curve wear, typically) there’s not much depth of head left below that/ underneath to support the wheel and keep it from falling in as the gage gets wide. Hence RWM’s cynical/ sarcastic (and on point) comment above about it being “gage free” rail !

For more info, see Caltrains Standard Drawing SD-2201 - “DATA FOR STANDARD RAIL SECTIONS” at:

http://www.caltrain.com/engineeringstandards/SD2201.pdf

The “HEAD-FREE SECTION” detail is just to the upper right of the center of this sheet. Note that the “undercut” angle is steeper than I indicated in my post yesterday.

The pertinent dimension is “D-1” - “DEPTH OF HEAD - AT CORNER” (lower), in the chart or tabulation at the upper left corner of this sheet. Note that it is 25/32 inch (3/4 inch, practically) for the 132-Lb. Head Free section, as compared with 1-9/16 inches (1-1/2 inches, practically) for the standard 132-Lb. RE “Tee” rail section = only half as deep !

For more on the head-free theory, see paragraph "b. Head-Free Joint Ba

42

I’m a’gonna try one last time here:

From jeaton (above):

Head free? The chart shows 115 lb and up rail with Head Depth of 1-11/16 to 2-1/16. What was the HD on on head free?

“DEPTH OF HEAD - AT CORNER” [lower] “D-1” = 25/32 inch (3/4" practically).

See the DIMENSIONS chart at the upper left, and the “HEAD-FREE SECTION” detail just to the upper right of the middle, of the drawing “DATA FOR STANDARD RAIL SECTIONS” at:

http://www.caltrain.com/engineeringstandards/SD2201.pdf

Note that Head Depth dimension for the 132-Lb. Head-Free rail section is only half the comparable depth of the 132-Lb. RE “Tee” rail section. It is just below the gage line measurement location, and not even as deep as the 1 inch nominal wheel flange - that’s why RWM called it “gage free” rail above !

For more on head-free theory, see para. b. and compare B and C of Fig. 3.19 at:

http://www.tpub.com/content/armytransportation/tr06708/tr067080068.htm

  • Paul North.
43

In reply to jeaton’s question on 03-19-2009 at 9:34 AM:

The HD for 132-Lb. Head-Free is “D-1”= 25/32" = only half of same dimension for 132-Lb. RE rail section.

See: http://www.caltrain.com/engineeringstandards/SD2201.pdf

  • Paul North.
44

Thanks for the info on HF. I am not sure if I am glad I asked, but the thing adds to my notion that railroading would have been a much simpler enterprise if the companies had gone with concrete and rubber tires. [swg]