A rail spike is a mechanical anchor for rails that transfers wheel loads to the sleeper, prevents gauge widening, and ensures rail retention against longitudinal movement. Its design and material directly affect maintenance intervals and track longevity. GNEE RAIL supplies rail spikes compatible with GB, UIC, DIN536, QU, JIS, AS1085, BS11, and AREMA/ASCE rails, including Q235, 35#, 45#, and 40Cr steel with various surface treatments.
What are railway spikes made of?
Railroad spikes are primarily made from carbon steel, categorized into low, medium, and structural grades, with common types including mild steel (low carbon) for general use and slightly higher carbon grades (often stamped "HC") for better hardness, though they're generally not considered high-carbon steel for knife-making purposes. Specific grades like Q235, Q345, 45#, and 40Cr steel are used, offering properties like toughness, weldability, or strength for various applications.
Types of Steel Used:
- Medium Carbon Steel (HC Spikes): Contains around 0.30% carbon (like 34 points), offering more hardness than mild steel but still not true "high carbon" steel, suitable for some forging projects.
- Structural Steel: Used for more robust parts, often with good processing and corrosion resistance.
- Low Carbon Steel (Mild Steel): Softer, won't shatter easily, allowing it to bend without breaking, essential for driving into ties without fracturing.
| Material | Strength Grade | Typical Length | Tensile Strength | Surface Treatment | Suitable Applications |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
Key Properties:
- Carbon Content: Dictates hardness; lower carbon is for durability during installation, higher carbon (like "HC") for better tool potential.
- ASTM Standards: Spikes meet specifications (like ASTM A65-07) for grades 1 (low carbon), 2 (higher carbon, "HC"), and 3 (structural).
What is the function of spikes in railway?
Railroad spikes are heavy-duty, chisel-pointed nails or screws designed to fasten rail tracks to sleepers (ties), playing a critical role in maintaining track stability, safety, and gauge. They resist lateral and longitudinal forces, preventing rail movement and derailments, while also holding the track in place.
- Securing the Gauge: Their primary purpose is maintaining the precise distance between rails, preventing them from spreading or narrowing, which prevents train derailments.
- Fastening Rails to Sleepers: Spikes, such as dog spikes or screw spikes, anchor the rails and tie plates directly to wooden or, with specialized sleeves, concrete sleepers.
- Withstanding Forces: They endure the vibration, thermal expansion, and heavy loads of passing trains.
- Resistance to Loosening: Designed with offset heads and chisel-shaped points driven perpendicular to the wood grain, they offer high resistance to loosening.
- Maintenance of Alignment: By keeping the tracks firmly in place, they ensure structural integrity, reduce wear on wheels and rails, and lower maintenance costs.
Specification of Railway Spike
Railway spikes are fasteners, including dog spikes and screw spikes, designed to secure rails and base plates to sleepers. Common dog spikes (e.g., 5/8" or 16mm square, ~6" long) use Q235 steel, while screw spikes (e.g., M22, 115-178mm) use 35# or 45# steel. They conform to standards like AREMA, UIC, and DIN, featuring high tensile strength (400-1000 MPa) and various surface treatments like hot-dip galvanizing.
| 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 |
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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