In railway track fastening systems, the dog spike is a foundational fastener with a distinctive shape and critical function, named for its spike head resembling a dog's head. It is primarily used to securely connect rails to sleepers (wooden or concrete sleepers), preventing lateral or longitudinal displacement of rails under train loads through the friction and gripping force of the spike shank, thereby ensuring track stability and operational safety. GNEE RAIL offers a diverse range of dog spike specifications, along with supporting fastener products such as elastic clips, bolts and nuts, fish plates, and gauge rods, as well as a series of fastener systems including SKL, KPO, and Nabla.
Dog spikes are mainly divided into two types: cut spikes and forged spikes.
Cut Spikes
Cut spikes are the most traditional type of dog spikes in the railway industry. They are produced by cutting steel or iron bars and then shaping them to feature square shanks and tapered tips. Typically driven into wooden sleepers, their square shape prevents rotation after installation.
The advantages of cut spikes include ease of installation and strong gripping ability on wooden sleepers. They are also relatively low-cost compared to other dog spike types. However, cut spikes are prone to corrosion and rusting; for instance, they may loosen due to vibrations from passing trains, which can reduce the strength of sleepers and track systems.
Forged Spikes
Forged spikes are manufactured by heating a piece of steel or iron to a red-hot state and then forging it into the desired spike shape. Compared to cut spikes, spikes made through forging are stronger and can be used with different types of sleepers, including concrete, steel, and wooden sleepers. Forged spikes have tapered shanks, pointed tips, and heads-either square or round, depending on the application.
The advantages of forged spikes over cut spikes lie in their higher strength and durability. They are less likely to loosen or corrode, significantly reducing the need for frequent maintenance. However, their cost is relatively higher than that of cut spikes.
GNEE RAIL offers a variety of dog head spikes. In addition, we also provide screw spikes, such as Ss series Sleeper Screw, Square head screw spike, Hexagon screw spike, Double-head screw spike, etc. If you want to know more about our products, please contact us.