What kind of steel are railroad tracks made of?

Question

What kind of steel are railroad tracks made of?

Answer 1

These other guys got here before me, so I won't elaborate since they already did. I know that all three of us are engineers, but I'm beginning to wonder if the other two ever work. They always answer before I can. Anyway, yeah, the rails are a rather mild steel. A 70 pound rail (70 pounds per yard) can flex as much as 3 inches vertically over 3 feet horizontally, in extreme circumstances, and not break. Most Class 1 railroads use heavier rails though, and I don't know how much they can flex. If you look closely at my avatar, there's a kink in the track. That gives you an idea of how flexible the rails are.

Answer 2

Rango is right, but rail in heavy curvature, especially in grade territory, takes the most brutal pounding and there a high-carbon steel is used.  A torch will cut it (eventually) but diamond saws are usually employed to cut the stuff.  Needless to say, mucho $$$ involved.

They are more brittle, which is why where I live and worked (mountains) they pull apart on average at least once a night in extreme cold.  Signalmen and/or  MOW was never more than a radio call and 40 minutes away.  Here the company will happily pay all the overtime, because the rail is more important.

They wear they receive is on the inside, of course.  But, before they replace them, they "transpose" them, one side to the other.  Now, there are two brand new inside surfaces, effectively doubling the rails' service life.

The rail-grinders dress the top of the rail, as pitting will hasten the rails demise.  It is done primarily so water won't collect in the pits, small though they may be.

Those damned curve greasers and flange lubricators are everywhere.  It's lots of fun when ya hit 'em heading downhill with a little rain on the rail, and all your dynamic goes away because the wheels on the loco have just been greased really well, too.

Answer 3

oddly enough

it is quite mild steel

rail has to undergo a tremendous amount of impact, expansion and contraction

the RR's have tried to use high carbon hardened steel but it is too brittle and prone to breaking

the mild steel they use wears significantly, especially in heavy curves so they install greasers at intervals in curving territory so squirt a small amount of grease on each wheel flange as it passes, this reduces rail wear quite a lot.

Rail will get "corrugated" very similar to washboard on a gravel road so they have a large grinding machine that comes along periodically and resurfaces the rail to smooth and proper profile.

All very expensive but so is replacing rail.