A rail spike is a steel pin or screw-type fastener that secures rails onto sleepers, preventing uplift, lateral slip, and longitudinal creep while maintaining designed track geometry. Proper spike performance ensures stable rail operation and reduces maintenance frequency. GNEE RAIL supplies spikes suitable for GB rails from 8–60 kg/m, UIC50/54/60, DIN536 A55–A120, QU70–QU120, JIS rails, AS1085 rails, BS11, and AREMA/ASCE sections, along with services including project matching, packaging, and logistics coordination.
What is a square head screw used for?
A rail square head screw spike is primarily used to securely fasten railway tracks and baseplates to timber or concrete sleepers, offering over twice the holding power of conventional dog spikes. These high-strength, threaded fasteners prevent vertical and lateral rail movement, ensuring structural integrity for heavy-load and high-speed rail applications.
| Type | Specification | Material | Surface | Standard |
| Square head screw spike | M22*145 | 45# | Natural | UIC |
| 55Q | Zinc | AREMA | ||
| M22*155 | Q235 | Paint | DIN | |
| M22*165 | or | Oil | GB | |
| M22*185 | According to your needs. | According to your needs. | or | |
| M22*195 | According to your drawings or samples. | |||
| Other kinds |
Key Uses and Applications:
- Fastening System: They secure rails to sleepers, often in combination with plastic ferrules cast into concrete sleepers or screwed directly into bored holes in wooden ties.
- Preventing Movement: They hold down rail baseplates to maintain gauge and reduce rail creep.
- High-Load Applications: Due to their superior tensile strength and resistance to loosening, they are ideal for heavy-haul railways.
- Versatility: Used in various environments, including railway turnouts, bridges, and in industrial settings.
Features and Advantages:
- Superior Grip: The threads provide higher anchorage capacity (up to 40 kN for hardwood and 60 kN for concrete) compared to hammered spikes.
- Components: Often used with spring washers to maintain constant clamping force.
- Material: Usually manufactured from high-strength steel (e.g., Q235, 45#, 55#).
| Material | Strength Grade | Length Range | Tensile Strength | Surface Treatment | Application |
| Q235 Carbon Steel | 4.6 / 5.6 | 100–250 mm | ≥ 370 MPa | Plain, Oxide Black, HDG | Light railway, mining tracks |
| 35# Carbon Steel | 4.6 / 5.6 | 100–250 mm | ≥ 450 MPa | Zinc, Sherardizing | Conventional timber sleeper tracks |
| 45# Carbon Steel | 5.6 | 120–300 mm | ≥ 520 MPa | HDG, Dacromet | Heavy-duty industrial and mainline tracks |
| 40Cr Alloy Steel | 5.6 / 8.8 | 120–300 mm | ≥ 750 MPa | Dacromet, Zinc | Crane rails, high-load applications |
- Design: Features a square head, which is easy to tighten with manual or power tools, and can be removed for maintenance or reuse.
Is a spike a fastener?
Yes, a spike is considered a fastener, specifically a heavy-duty, large nail or rod designed to join heavy materials, such as timber or railroad ties, together. Similar to bolts and screws, they provide significant holding power for structural applications, acting as a rigid, metal fastening item.
Key details about spikes as fasteners include:
- Types: They range from common rail spikes to screw spikes (which feature threads for higher, up to 2x, retention).
- Application: Commonly used in railroad construction, heavy timber construction, docks, and to secure materials into concrete.
- Structure: They consist of a long, thick metal shank with a pointed end for penetration and a head for driving.
- Function: They are driven or screwed into materials to prevent lateral and vertical movement.
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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