Rail lengths
 | This article is missing information about Error: you must specify what information is missing.. (October 2011) |
Rail lengths are made as long as possible, as joints between rails are a source of weakness. Over the decades, lengths increased as manufacturing processes improved.
The following are lengths from the steel mill, without any thermite welding. However shorter rails may be welded with flashbutt welding.
Examples
- (the following rails are not welded from shorter lengths)
- 1825 15 feet (4.6 m) Stockton and Darlington Railway 5.6 lb/yd (2.8 kg/m) - See: S&DR
- (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 (11.89 m) United States to suit 40-foot (12.19 m) long gondola waggons
- (1950) 60 feet (18.29 m) British Rail
- (1900) 71 feet (21.64 m)) - steel works weighing machine for rails (Steelyard balance)[2]
Welding of rails into longer lengths was first introduced around 1893.
- (1895)
Hans Goldschmidt - (1935) Charles Cadwell, non-ferrous Thermit welding
- (1950)
240 feet (73.15 m) welded [4]
- (2013)
354 feet (108 m) TATA Steel at Hayange, France.
- (2011)
394 feet (120 m) Voestalpine [5]
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.
Boltholes
Rails can be supplied pre-drilled with boltholes for fishplates or without where they will be welded into place.
There are usually 2 boltholes or 3 boltholes.
See also
References
- ^ "Surveys Of New Rail Link". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 17 June 1953. p. 5. Retrieved 3 October 2012.
- ^ "Big Weighing Machines". Australian Town and Country Journal (NSW : 1870 - 1907). NSW: National Library of Australia. 4 August 1900. p. 19. Retrieved 8 October 2011.
- ^ http://trn.trains.com/en/Railroad%20Reference/ABCs%20of%20Railroading/2006/05/Rail.aspx
- ^ "Opening Of S.-E. Broad Gauge line". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954). Adelaide, SA: National Library of Australia. 2 February 1950. p. 1. Retrieved 8 December 2011.
- ^ http://www.voestalpine.com/schienen/en/products/railway_infrastructure/rails/ultralong_rails.html
- ^ http://www.jindalsteelpower.com/products/rails.aspx
 | This rail-transport related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |