A railroad spike, which is equipped with an offset head, is a large rail nail used to secure and fasten the rails in the railway system. And the common sizes are usually between 9-10/16 inch and 5.5-6 inch long. With a flat edged point and chisel-shaped, the spike can give greater resistance to loosening.
In the past several years ago, the installation of railway is mainly by manual work. To spikes, it were driven into wood sleepers through a heavy hammer by hand. Later, in the times of industrialization, the machines appeared and replaced this manual work. There are many various international standards such as AREMA, ASTM, UIC, GB, BS standards for different kinds of railway tracks.
Among the railroad spikes, dog spike and screw spike are the two common railroad spikes in the market.
screw spike
Screw spikes are critical fasteners in railway track fastening systems, used to securely connect rails, sleepers (or baseplates), and fastening components. The shank of the screw spike features a continuous helical thread, and the head is typically designed as a hexagon or slotted round head to facilitate tightening with tools.
GNEE RAIL manufactures screw spikes using high-strength carbon steel (such as Q235 or No. 45 steel) or alloy structural steel. Through the application of heat treatment technology, the hardness and toughness of the spikes are significantly improved, enabling them to better withstand longitudinal impacts, lateral thrust, and vertical loads generated during train operation.
The railway screw spikes can be classified into four types: Ss series sleeper screw, square head screw spike, hexagon screw spike and double-head screw spike.
Ss series sleeper screw
| Type | Specification | Weight/kg | Surface | Standard |
| Ss 1/130 | M22*130 | 0.451 | UIC | |
| Ss 1/150 | M22*150 | 0.478 | Natural | AREMA |
| Ss 2/180 | M22*150 | 0.595 | Zinc | GB |
| Ss 5/150 | M24*150 | 0.545 | Paint | or |
| Ss 6/150 | M26*150 | 0.702 | Oil | According to your drawings or samples. |
| Ss 7/180 | M24*180 | 0.636 | According to your needs. | |
| Ss 8/140 | M24*140 | 0.528 | ||
| Ss 8/150 | M24*150 | 0.548 |
square head screw spike
| Type | Specification | Material | Surface | Standard |
| Square head screw spike | M22*145 | 45# | Natural | UIC |
| 55Q | Zinc | AREMA | ||
| M22*155 | Q235 | Paint | DIN | |
| M22*165 | or | Oil | GB | |
| M22*185 | According to your needs. | According to your needs. | or | |
| M22*195 | According to your drawings or samples. | |||
| Other kinds |
Hexagon screw spike
| Grade | 4.6 | 5 .6 | 8.8 | 10.9 |
| Material | Q235 | 35# | 45# | 40Cr |
| Mechanical | Tensile strength: ≥ 400Mpa | Tensile strength: ≥ 500Mpa | Tensile strength: ≥ 800Mpa | Tensile strength: ≥ 1000Mpa |
| Yield strength: ≥ 240Mpa | Yield strength: ≥ 300Mpa | Yield strength: ≥ 640Mpa | Yield strength: ≥ 900Mpa | |
| Elongation: ≥ 22% | Elongation: ≥ 20% | Elongation: ≥ 12% | Elongation: ≥ 9% | |
| Cold bending: 90 degree | Cold bending: 90 degree | Cold bending: 90 degree | Cold bending: 90 degree | |
| without crack | without crack | without crack | without crack | |
| Surface | plain (oiled) , Oxide black, Zinc, HDG, wax, bitumen, Dacromet, Sherardizing | |||
Double-head screw spike
| Size: 23×174 |
| Grade: 4.6, 5.6, 8.8, 10.9 |
| Raw Material: 35# |
| Raw material: Q235, 35#, 45# |
| Surface Treatment: Plain (oiled), Bluing, Zinc, HDG, etc |
Dog Spikes
Why dog spike is so called?
Dog spike is another important component of railroad spikes. Because of the two lugs on either side, the dog spike looks just like the dog's head. Just like the screw spikes, the dog spikes have the similar dimensions. But as to the head, it has a pointed penetrating head.
| Specification | Material | Surface | Standard |
| 5/8*6 '' | A3,Q235, 45#,55#, etc | According to customer needs. | According to customer's drawings or samples. |
| 9/16*5-1/2 '' | |||
| 3/8''*3-1/2 '' | |||
| 1/2*3-1/2 | |||
| Other kinds |
Comparison of dog spikes and screw spikes
Surface
The screw spikes are the railroad spikes with the screw thread on the surface. But as to the dog spikes, it has a pointed penetrating head with a smooth suface.
Power
As to the holding power, the screw spikes can provide more than twice of the power than the dog spikes.
Cost
Because of the greater fixing power and the feature that can be combined with spring washers, the cost of manufacture of the screw spike is higher than the dog spikes or dog nails.
GNEE RAIL offers a variety of dog spikes and screw spikes. We can customize material, size, and surface finish (black oxide, hot-dip galvanized, Dacromet) to meet customer requirements. We also provide:
- Customized proofing according to drawings
- Factory mechanical test reports
- Third-party inspection and certification (e.g., SGS, BV)
- Bulk stock and global shipping services
For detailed product specifications, actual drawings, samples, or a quote, please contact GNEE RAIL.