A rail spike is a steel connector that transfers wheel loads from the rail to the sleeper while keeping the rail firmly seated, resisting vibrations, and minimizing rail and sleeper wear over time. GNEE RAIL offers spikes for all major standards: GB 8–60 kg/m, UIC50/54/60, DIN536 A55–A120, QU70–QU120, JIS 15KG–CR100, AS1085 31–89 kg, BS11, and AREMA/ASCE 25–175 lb, with material options Q235, 35#, 45#, 40Cr, and services including supply, installation guidance, and quality inspection.
Are railroad spikes hard metal?
Railroad spikes are generally not considered "hard" metal in terms of holding a sharp edge, as they are typically made from soft, low-to-medium carbon steel (often AISI 1018 or Q235) designed for ductility, toughness, and bendability rather than brittleness. While they can be hardened slightly via specialized quenching.
What are railway spikes made of?
Railway spikes are primarily made of low-carbon steel (such as Q235, A3) to ensure they are tough enough to bend without shattering when driven into railroad ties. They are designed to withstand high impact, with some higher-performance variations using medium-carbon steel (e.g., 45# or 55#) or specialized, corrosion-resistant alloys.
| Material | Strength Grade | Hardness / Tensile Strength | Surface Treatment | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q235 Carbon Steel | 4.6 / 5.6 | ≥ 370 MPa | Plain, Oxide Black, HDG | Light rail, mining tracks |
| 35# Carbon Steel | 4.6 / 5.6 | ≥ 450 MPa | Zinc, Sherardizing | Conventional railway |
| 45# Carbon Steel | 5.6 | ≥ 520 MPa | HDG, Dacromet | Heavy-duty industrial track |
| 40Cr Alloy Steel | 5.6 / 8.8 | ≥ 750 MPa | Dacromet, Zinc | Crane rails, high-load applications |
Specification and Types of Rail Spike
Rail spikes secure rails to ties, essential for track stability and gauge maintenance. The two main types are dog spikes (common, hammered) and screw spikes (threaded for higher, more secure fastening), typically made from high-carbon or carbon steel (Q235, 45#).
Key Types of Rail Spikes
- Dog Spike/Cut Spike: The most common type, featuring a wedge-shaped, pointed tip and an L-shaped head for high-speed, easy installation.
| Standards: AREMA, UIC or others following customer needs | Model：according to customer needs | Type: spike |
| Head type：various kinds | Neck type：Various kinds | Function：to fix rails |
| Applied range：to fasten rails of the railroad bed | Body type: various kinds | Length available：10--1000(mm) |
| Tolerance：according to customer needs | Surface finish: plain oil, black, HDG, galvanized, etc. | Material：Q235,35#,45#,60#,16Mn,65 Mn,40Cr,20MnTiB,35CrMo,42CrMo |
| Grade：3.6,4.6,4.8,5.6,5.8,6.8,8.8,9.8,10.9,12.9 | Spike specifications：According to customer drawings | Free sample and product customizing available |
- Screw Spike/Sleeper Screw: Utilized primarily on concrete sleepers, these provide stronger clamping force and are less prone to loosening from vibrations.
| the types of Ss Series Sleeper Screw | Product Name | Specification | Material | Surface | Standard | |
| 1 | Fishtail Bolt | M8-M64 | Q235,45#,55#,etc | Zinc,Plain, Black Oil | UIC,AREMA,JIS,GB or according to your requests. | |
| 2 | Screw Spike | Square Head Screw Spike | M16-M22 *145-200 | |||
| Hexagon Head Screw Spike | ||||||
| Other Types | ||||||
| 3 | Sleeper Screw | Type | Specification | Weight/kg | Surface | Standard |
| Ss 1/130 | M22*130 | 0.451 | Zinc,Plain, Black Oil | UIC,AREMA,JIS,GB or according to your requests. | ||
| Ss 1/150 | M22*150 | 0.478 | ||||
| Ss 2/180 | M22*180 | 0.595 | ||||
| Ss 5/150 | M24*150 | 0.545 | ||||
| Ss 6/130 | M26*130 | 0.658 | ||||
| Ss 6/150 | M26*150 | 0.702 | ||||
| Ss 6/170 | M26*170 | 0.385 | ||||
| Ss 7/180 | M24*180 | 0.636 | ||||
| Ss 8/140 | M24*140 | 0.528 | ||||
| Ss 8/150 | M24*150 | 0.548 | ||||
| Ss 8/160 | M24*160 | 0.568 | ||||
| Ss 23/160 | M23*160 | 0.645 | ||||
| Ss 24/165 | M24*165 | 0.59 | ||||
| Ss 25/165 | M25*165 | 0.625 | ||||
- Elastic Spike: Offers improved elasticity and resilience to maintain fastening pressure.
Rail spike, one of the products of GNEE RAIL , is used to connect the steel rail with rail sleeper or bind the rail plate and rail sleeper together.As a professional rail fasteners supplier,GNEE RAIL offers different kinds of railway fasteners to meet client's requirements, such as Elastic Rail Clip and Clamp, Plastic Dowel, High Tensile Track Bolt with Nut, Rail Base(Tie) Plate, Rail Fish Plate, Railway Shoulder(Insert), Fish Bolt, Railroad Rubber and EVA Pad, etc. Samples and drawings provided by customer, we will manufacture qualified products accordingly.
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