Strength of Train Rails

• Sep 20, 2006

• #2

civilperson

Structural

Jan 13, 2006

2,399

US

Ninth Edition ASD, "Manual of Steel Construction" AISC (1-113), has both 85 and 100 pound per yard rail Dimensions and Properties. Either use the lesser values for I and S or interpolate between the two values.

 

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• Sep 20, 2006

• #3

RockEngineer

Structural

May 29, 2002

267

US

Foster Rail Products has a lot of online information about crane and train rail products including sizes and properties for current and old rail types. I didn't see the yield strengths but if it isn't posted on their web site I am sure you can call them and they will have the specifics for your rail.

http://www.lbfoster.com/railproducts/index.html

 

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• Sep 20, 2006

• #4

oldrunner

Structural

May 11, 2001

473

US

I don't think "civilperson" answered your question correctly.
What you are looking for is the material properties of the crane rails and not the section properties.

Obtain a copy of ASTM A759. It may have the material properties listed.

 

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• Sep 20, 2006

• Thread starter
• #5

tjclose

Structural

Jul 30, 2001

8

US

ASTM A 01, covers carbon steel tee rails but only lists chemical requirements and hardness requirements. It does not list strength requirements. Since my original post, I have found tensile and yield properties for standard chemistry rail steel in the current AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering. Now I need to find the sme information for much older material. The three pieces I have are stamped as follows:

9020 ARA OH Inland USA 1926
9020 ARA IS Co. Gary 1912
9020 ARA OH Tennessee USA 1934

Does anyone have a Manual for Railway Engineering of that era (1912 to 1934) that lists tensile and yield for standard chemistry rail steel?

 

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