Rail track is an essential component of rail track, and its function is to guide the train wheels moving forward by withstanding the enormous pressure pushed by the wheels. Steel rail shall provide smooth, stable and continuous rolling surface for the passing train wheels. In electrical railway or automatic block section, railway track can also be used as track circuit.
What is railroad metal made of?
Carbon steel
carbon steel is a steel rail smelted and rolled with natural raw iron ore. It mainly uses carbon and manganese elements in the ore to increase the strength of the rail. Ordinary carbon train track steel is composed of 0.40%-0.80% carbon and manganese less than 1.30%-1.4%.
Alloy steel
The alloy steel is a steel rail that is smelted and rolled after adding appropriate amounts of alloy elements such as vanadium, titanium, chromium, and tin to the original iron ore. The strength and toughness of this type of rail are higher than that of carbon rail.
Heat-treated steel
The heat-treated steel is a steel rail that is formed by heating and controlling the cooling of the hot-rolled carbon rail or alloy rail. The pearlite structure of the heat-treated rail is more refined than that of the hot-rolled rail, resulting in higher strength and toughness. The hardened rail after heat treatment has a layer of hardening correction at the head of the rail, which greatly improves its mechanical properties so that the service life of the rail can be extended.
Why are rails made of steel?
Rails are made of steel because it offers an unmatched combination of high strength, durability, wear resistance, and cost-effectiveness, allowing them to withstand massive train weights and speeds without deforming, while also being recyclable and relatively easy to join. No other material provides this balance, as alternatives like iron are too brittle, aluminum is too weak, and titanium is too expensive.
Key properties of steel for rails:
- Strength & Durability: Steel can support extremely heavy loads and constant friction from steel wheels over long periods.
- Wear Resistance: Specific steel alloys (like chromium-molybdenum) increase hardness, reducing wear from repeated use.
- Cost-Effectiveness: Steel is strong enough for the job but significantly cheaper than alternatives like titanium, making large-scale rail networks feasible.
- Malleability & Formability: The hot-rolling process creates a smooth surface for better wheel grip and allows the steel to be formed into its essential I-beam shape for optimal load distribution.
As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAIL can provide different standard steel rail such as American, BS, UIC, DIN, JIS, Australian and South Africa which used in railway lines, cranes and coal mining.
UIC 860 Standard Steel Rail
| Standard: UIC860 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| UIC50 | 70 | 152 | 125 | 15 | 50.46 | 12-25 |
| UIC54 | 70 | 159 | 140 | 16 | 54.43 | |
| UIC60 | 74.3 | 172 | 150 | 16.5 | 60.21 | |
American Standard Steel Rail
| ASTM standard, AREMA standard | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Foot | Thickness | |||
| ASCE 25 | 38.1 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.4 | 6-12 |
| ASCE 30 | 42.86 | 79.38 | 79.38 | 8.33 | 14.88 | |
| ASCE 40 | 47.62 | 88.9 | 88.9 | 9.92 | 19.84 | |
| ASCE 60 | 60.32 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 29.76 | |
| ASCE 75 | 62.71 | 122.24 | 122.24 | 13.49 | 37.2 | 12-25 |
| ASCE 85 | 65.09 | 131.76 | 131.76 | 14.29 | 42.17 | |
| ASCE 90 | 69.09 | 130.18 | 142.88 | 14.29 | 44.65 | |
| ASCE 115 | 69.06 | 139.7 | 168.28 | 15.88 | 56.9 | |
| ASCE 136 | 74.61 | 152.4 | 185.74 | 17.46 | 67.41 | |
| ASCE 175 | 109.86 | 152.4 | 152.4 | 38.1 | 86.8 | |
Chinese Standard Light Rail
| Standard: GB11264-89 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| GB6KG | 25.4 | 50.8 | 50.8 | 4.76 | 5.98 | 6-12 |
| GB9KG | 32.1 | 63.5 | 63.5 | 5.9 | 8.94 | |
| GB12KG | 38.1 | 69.85 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.2 | |
| GB15KG | 42.86 | 79.37 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 | |
| GB22KG | 50.3 | 93.66 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 23.3 | |
| GB30KG | 60.33 | 107.95 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 | |
| Standard: YB222-63 | ||||||
| 8KG | 25 | 65 | 54 | 7 | 8.42 | 6-12 |
| 18KG | 40 | 90 | 80 | 10 | 18.06 | |
| 24KG | 51 | 107 | 92 | 10.9 | 24.46 | |
Chinese Standard Heavy Rail
| Standard: GB2585-2007 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| P38KG | 68 | 134 | 114 | 13 | 38.733 | 12.5-25 |
| P43KG | 70 | 140 | 114 | 14.5 | 44.653 | |
| P50KG | 70 | 152 | 132 | 15.5 | 51.514 | |
| P60KG | 73 | 170 | 150 | 16.5 | 61.64 | |
Chinese Standard Crane Rail
| Standard: YB/T5055-93 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Size | Dimension(mm) | Weight (kg/m) |
Length(m) | |||
| Head | Height | Bottom | Thickness | |||
| QU 70 | 70 | 120 | 120 | 28 | 52.8 | 12 |
| QU 80 | 80 | 130 | 130 | 32 | 63.69 | |
| QU 100 | 100 | 150 | 150 | 38 | 88.96 | |
| QU 120 | 120 | 170 | 170 | 44 | 118.1 | |
Since 2008, GNEE RAIL has been supplying steel rails of different grades for more than 18 years, steel rails from GNEE is highly recommened in China and abroad.Wtih cutting edge equipment, GNEE produces high quality steel rails that meet with requirements of most countries. Standard rail, head hardened rail, heavy rail,light rail,crane rail and other types are all available here, as one of the China main rail supplier, GNEE RAIL has been working on supplying economical green railway products all over the world.