Steel rails are the load bearing and guiding elements in a railway or tramway track. Individual fragments are bolted or welded together forming a continuous line that supports railcar wheels. The cross section of the rail segment, or the profile, has varied over time and by application area.
Why don't rails rust?
Railway lines are made of steel, and steel can rust, especially when left out in the wind and rain, which is where most railway lines spend their working lives. Manufacturing the lines from stainless steel might look like a solution, but its different composition means it is not tough enough to bear the load of trains constantly rolling over it.
There are hints of rust along the bottom edges of some of the lines in the photograph but the tops all look highly polished - and that is because they are. The regular motion of trains over the lines serves to keep them polished and rust-free. Traces of rust along the sides where the wheels don't come into contact are not usually an issue, although regular checks are made focusing particularly on points (switches) and areas of low use and fierce weather. Where tracks are abandoned, the rails turn rusty brown.
What is the material of the steel rail?
Steel rails are primarily made from high-carbon steel, specifically carbon-manganese steels, engineered for high strength, hardness, and wear resistance with controlled amounts of carbon (around 0.6-0.8%) and manganese (0.7-1.2%). Some specialized rails use alloy steels with elements like vanadium or chromium, or undergo heat treatment for enhanced properties, crucial for withstanding heavy loads and harsh conditions.
| 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 |
Since 2008, GNEE RAIL has been supplying steel rails of different grades for more than 18 years, steel rails from GNEE is highly recommened in China and abroad.Wtih cutting edge equipment, GNEE produces high quality steel rails that meet with requirements of most countries. Standard rail, head hardened rail, heavy rail,light rail,crane rail and other types are all available here, as one of the China main rail supplier, GNEE RAIL has been working on supplying economical green railway products all over the world.
| 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 | |
In addition to steel rails, GNEE RAIL also offers a wide range of rail components. We take quality and safety as our core in all products, rigorously testing every component to meet the highest industry standards. Contact us today to discuss your specific requirements.
