Rail lengths
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Rail lengths are made as long as possible, as joints between rails are a source of weekness. Over the decades, lengths increased as manufacturing processes improved.
The following are lengths from the steel mill, without any thermite welding.
Examples
- (1830)
15 feet (4.57 m) Liverpool and Manchester Railway
- fish-belly rails at 35 lb/yd (17.4 kg/m), laid mostly on stone blocks.
- (1880)
39 feet United States to suit 40 foot long gondola waggons
- (1950) 60 feet British Rail
- (2011)
120m Voestalpine [1]
Multiples
Newer longer rails tend to be made as simple multiples of older shorter rails, so that old rails can be replaced without cutting. Some cutting would be needed as slightly longer rails are needed on the outside of sharp curves compared to the rails on the inside.
See also
References
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