A rail spike is a mechanical connector designed to lock rails onto sleepers, preventing relative movement between rail and sleeper while ensuring continuous load transfer along the track. Its geometry and steel grade directly affect fastening reliability and maintenance cycles. GNEE RAIL manufactures rail spikes in grade 4.6 and 5.6 for all major standards including GB, UIC, DIN536, QU, JIS, AS1085, BS11, and AREMA/ASCE.
What is the function of a rail screw spike?
A rail screw spike is a heavy-duty, threaded fastener designed to securely fasten steel rails to wooden or concrete sleepers (ties), maintaining the precise track gauge and preventing lateral or vertical movement. It provides higher clamping force and superior pull-out resistance compared to traditional dog spikes, crucial for stability and safety.
Key Functions of a Rail Screw Spike:
- Secure Rail Fastening: It holds the rail firmly to the sleepers, which is essential for ensuring the stability and safety of the railway track.
- Maintain Gauge: By fixing the rail tightly, it prevents the rails from shifting, which helps maintain the correct gauge (the distance between rails) and prevents train derailments.
- High Pull-out Resistance: The screw thread design allows for stronger clamping force, offering more than double the holding power of conventional dog spikes, making it ideal for heavy-load, high-speed rail lines.
- Versatility in Sleepers: It is used with wooden ties (screwed directly into pre-drilled holes) and concrete sleepers (often in combination with plastic dowels or anchors).
- Reduced Maintenance: Due to its high, consistent fastening power, it requires less frequent maintenance compared to non-threaded spikes.
Specifications of rail screw spike:
| the types of Ss Series Sleeper Screw | Product Name | Specification | Material | |
| 1 | Fishtail Bolt | M8-M64 | Q235,45#,55#,etc | |
| 2 | Screw Spike | Square Head Screw Spike | M16-M22 *145-200 | |
| Hexagon Head Screw Spike | ||||
| Other Types | ||||
| 3 | Sleeper Screw | Type | Specification | Weight/kg |
| Ss 1/130 | M22*130 | 0.451 | ||
| 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 | ||
How to use sleeper screws?
Sleeper screws, are heavy-duty, corrosion-resistant fasteners (typically 150-250mm long) used to secure timber railway sleepers for landscaping projects. Use an impact driver to drive them directly into timber, ideally spacing them 400-600mm apart. Pre-drilling pilot holes is recommended to prevent wood splitting, especially in hardwood.
Key Steps and Tips:
- Select Correct Size: Ensure the screw penetrates at least 50mm into the adjoining timber.
- Use Proper Tools: A high-torque impact driver is essential for driving these large screws.
- Prevent Splitting: Drill pilot holes first to make driving easier and avoid damaging the wood.
- Secure Corners: Use at least three screws on corner joints, or use internal metal brackets for extra, hidden support.
- Placement: Space screws 400-600mm apart and ensure they sit flush with the surface.
- Fixing Type: Use galvanised steel screws for treated timber to resist rust.
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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