Steel rail is a type of steel bar that has a long, rectangular cross-section in the shape of an I or U. It is used to install railway tracks, and tracks for specialized vehicles such as cranes, trolleys, and locomotives, etc.They are produced from iron ore, through the processes of metallurgy, hot rolling, cold rolling, and heat treatment, to create different types of steel according to different standards and specifications.
| Classification | Height(mm) | Head (mm) | Bottom (mm) | Thick(mm) | Weight (kg/m) | |
| Light Rail | 8 KG/M | 65 | 25 | 54 | 7 | 8.42 |
| 9 KG/M | 63.5 | 32.1 | 63.5 | 5.9 | 8.94 | |
| 12 KG/M | 69.85 | 38.1 | 69.85 | 7.54 | 12.2 | |
| 15 KG/M | 79.37 | 42.86 | 79.37 | 8.33 | 15.2 | |
| 18 KG/M | 80 | 40 | 80 | 10 | 18.06 | |
| 22 KG/M | 93.66 | 50.8 | 93.66 | 10.72 | 22.3 | |
| 24 KG/M | 107 | 51 | 90 | 10.9 | 24.46 | |
| 30 KG/M | 107.95 | 60.33 | 107.95 | 12.3 | 30.1 | |
| Heavy Rail | 38 KG/M | 134 | 68 | 114 | 13 | 38.733 |
| 43 KG/M | 140 | 70 | 114 | 14.5 | 44.653 | |
| 45 KG/M | 145 | 67 | 126 | 14.5 | 45.546 | |
| 50 KG/M | 152 | 70 | 132 | 15.5 | 51.514 | |
| 60 KG/M | 176 | 73 | 150 | 16.5 | 60.64 | |
| Crane Rail | QU 70 | 120 | 70 | 120 | 28 | 52.8 |
| QU 80 | 130 | 80 | 130 | 32 | 63.69 | |
| QU 100 | 150 | 100 | 150 | 38 | 88.96 | |
| QU 120 | 170 | 120 | 170 | 44 | 118.1 | |
The function of Steel Rail
Steel rails function as the fundamental component of railway tracks, providing a smooth, continuous surface to guide train wheels, bearing and distributing immense loads from trains to the sleepers and ballast, and often serving as electrical conductors for signaling systems, ensuring safe, efficient, and stable train movement.
Key Functions:
- Guidance: Rails keep the train wheels aligned and moving in the intended direction, preventing derailments.
- Support & Load Transfer: They support the entire weight of the train and effectively transfer these enormous vertical and lateral forces down to the sleepers (ties) and the underlying track bed.
- Smooth Rolling Surface: Rails provide a low-resistance, continuous, and level surface for the wheels, enabling smooth and efficient train operation.
- Electrical Conduction: In electrified railways, rails act as conductors for the return current and also for track circuits, which are vital for signaling and detecting train location.
- Stability & Durability: Made from high-strength steel, they create a stable foundation that resists wear, impact, and vibration, ensuring track longevity.
What is rail steel made of?
Rail steel is a high-carbon steel, primarily made from iron ore with controlled amounts of carbon (around 0.6-0.8%) and manganese (0.7-1.7%) for hardness and wear resistance, plus small additions of silicon, chromium, vanadium, or titanium to boost strength, toughness, and fatigue life for heavy loads and high speeds. It's engineered to be tough, durable, and resistant to wear, often using recycled materials and advanced heat treatments for superior performance.
- Carbon Steel: Common, often 1084 grade or higher, balancing strength and workability.
- Alloy Steel: Contains added elements like Cr, V, or Ti for superior strength, hardness, and fatigue resistance for demanding conditions.
- Heat-Treated Steel: Treated after rolling to refine microstructure, increasing strength and life.
GNEE RAIL Commonly Used Steel Chemical Compositions
| Steel Grade | C (%) | Si | Mn | P | S |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U71Mn | 0.65~0.76 | 0.15~0.58 | 0.70~1.40 | ≤0.035 | ≤0.030 |
| 50Mn | 0.47-0.55 | 0.17-0.37 | 0.70-1.00 | ≤0.030 | ≤0.030 |
| 60Mn | 0.57–0.65 | ≤ 0.40 | 0.70–1.00 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 |
| R260 | 0.60–0.80 | 0.10–0.50 | 0.80-1.30 | ≤ 0.025 | ≤ 0.020 |
| R350HT | 0.65–0.82 | 0.10–0.50 | 0.80–1.50 | ≤ 0.025 | ≤ 0.020 |
| 1080 | 0.75–0.88 | ≤ 0.40 | 0.60–0.90 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 |
| 1084 | 0.80–0.93 | ≤ 0.40 | 0.60–0.90 | ≤ 0.030 | ≤ 0.030 |
As a professional rail fastener supplier, GNEE RAIL can provide different standard steel rail such as American, BS, UIC, DIN, JIS, Australian and South Africa which used in railway lines, cranes and coal mining.
