Engineering & Technical Info

For Designing, Constructing & Maintaining
Railroad Tracks

This section will be used to assist customers with specifications and engineering of our rail products. Often people considering rail track as an option will ask what size of rail should be used for various loads. While there are many factors that determine what rail to use there are some general guidelines that can be used as a generic starting reference point. The table below comes from the 1957 American Mining Congress specification. While this may provide a starting point it is recommended that users take into account quality of track construction, rail quality and rolling date and other factors. The table gives rolling loads on light railroad rails at various tie spacings in pounds for one wheel on well constructed track. Where N/R designated, loads not recommended for given rail and tie spacing.

Safe Rolling Loads on Light Rails At Various Tie Spacings in Pounds for One Wheel on Well Constructed Track
	Tie Spacing Center to Center in Inches
lb/ yard	16"	20"	24"	28"	32"	36"
20	5,720	4,576	3,813	3,268	2,860	2,542
25	7,081	5,664	4,720	4,045	3,540	2,868
30	10,120	8,096	6,746	5,782	5,060	4,497
40	14,480	11,584	9,653	6,902	7,240	6,435
60	26,480	21,184	16,550	15,131	13,240	11,768
85	44,600	35,650	29,700	25,500	22,300	19,800
90	N/R (48,800)	N/R (39,000)	32,500	27,900	24,400	21,700
100	N/R (58,400)	N/R (46,700)	N/R (46,700)	33,300	29,200	25,900

(4/14/2010 To Be Continued DSK)