A rail spike is a durable steel fastener used to clamp rails to wooden or concrete sleepers, maintaining track gauge, resisting dynamic loads, and ensuring overall rail stability under frequent traffic conditions. GNEE RAIL offers spikes in grades 4.6 and 5.6, made from Q235, 35#, 45#, and 40Cr, compatible with GB, UIC, DIN536, QU, JIS, AS1085, BS11, and AREMA/ASCE rail systems, along with services for cutting, threading, coating, and installation advice.
| 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 | ||||
What are railroad spikes called?
Railroad spikes are generally called rail spikes or track spikes, but in railway engineering and trade, several more specific names are used depending on the shape, installation method, and application. The most common traditional type is the dog spike (also called square spike), which is driven into wooden sleepers to hold the rail foot or baseplate in position.
Another widely used name is screw spike, also known as coach screw spike, which has a threaded shank and is screwed into pre-drilled holes in sleepers, providing much higher holding strength and better resistance to vibration. In industrial and mining railways, you may also hear terms such as railway spike, track spike, or industrial rail spike, which usually refer to variations of dog spikes or screw spikes designed for light rails and temporary tracks.
In practice, the "name" of the railroad spike usually reflects how it is installed and what level of holding force is required, rather than just its appearance. Modern heavy-haul and high-speed lines mostly use elastic fastening systems with rail clips, but spikes are still common in timber sleeper tracks, mining railways, sidings, bridges, and crane rail foundations, where simple structure and strong anchorage are needed.
Common Names and Types of Railroad Spikes:
| Common Name | Also Called | Installation Method | Typical Application |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dog Spike | Square Spike, Track Spike | Hammered into sleeper | Timber sleepers, light & conventional tracks |
| Screw Spike | Coach Screw Spike, Railway Screw | Screwed into pre-drilled hole | Heavy load tracks, bridges, turnouts, crane rails |
| Industrial Spike | Rail Spike, Mining Spike | Hammered or screwed (varies) | Mining railways, temporary tracks |
GNEE RAIL supplies both traditional and high-strength spike solutions as part of complete rail fastening systems, including baseplates and rail pads for better load distribution and sleeper protection.
Typical Materials Used for Railroad Spike
Railroad spikes are primarily manufactured from high-quality carbon steel or structural steel to ensure strength and durability in securing rail tracks. Common materials include Q235, 45#, 55# steel, 40Cr, and 35CrMoA, which provide necessary hardness while preventing brittleness, allowing for structural integrity under stress.
| Material | Strength Grade | Size Range | Tensile Strength | Surface Treatment | Suitable For |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q235 Carbon Steel | 4.6 / 5.6 | 90–250 mm | ≥ 370 MPa | Plain, Oxide Black, HDG | Light rail, mining track |
| 35# Carbon Steel | 4.6 / 5.6 | 90–250 mm | ≥ 450 MPa | Zinc, Sherardizing | Conventional railway |
| 45# Carbon Steel | 5.6 | 100–300 mm | ≥ 520 MPa | HDG, Dacromet | Heavy-duty & industrial track |
| 40Cr Alloy Steel | 5.6 / 8.8 | 100–300 mm | ≥ 750 MPa | Dacromet, Zinc | Crane rail, high-load conditions |
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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