Rail specific weight: weight of 1 linear meter

As scientists suppose, the first rails were invented in Ancient Egypt and were straight sticks along which carts were moved to transport materials during pyramid construction, although other studies speak of the active use of wooden rails by the ancient Romans. In the 16th century, wooden guides again began to be used for moving carts in mines. In 1767, the Englishman Abraham Darby decided to pave the road from his mines with cast-iron rails instead of wooden ones. This decision marked the beginning of the railway era.

Types of rails

Today railway rails are familiar to everyone, but only those involved in railway work know that there are a huge number of rail modifications, different in shape, length and purpose. The weight of railway rails also differs.

Classification:

• by type of purpose: railway, crane, tram, mine-cart and connecting rails,
• by quality category: heat-strengthened and non-heat-strengthened,
• by presence of holes for bolted joints,
• by method of steel smelting.

Materials

Rails are usually produced from special rail steels. Their quality depends on the standard, intended use and chemical composition, while physical properties are determined by the internal structure of the metal.

Carbon makes steel wear-resistant and hard, but excessive carbon content increases brittleness, especially in the presence of harmful phosphorus and sulfur impurities.

Manganese, an alloying component, increases hardness and toughness of steel; silicon increases wear resistance. Vanadium and titanium improve the internal structure.

What is the weight of one linear meter of rail?

The main rail marking consists of a capital letter, or letters, and numbers, for example R65. The letters indicate the profile type or purpose, while the numbers are usually close to the mass of one running meter. The exact value should be taken from the table or the standard for the specific profile, because actual mass depends on section shape, tolerances and wear.

• For broad-gauge railway tracks, rails R43, R50, R65 and R75 are produced. They are also intended for switches.
• Rails marked RP with indices 50, 65 and 70 are intended for industrial broad-gauge tracks.
• For mines and pits, types R33 and R38 are produced.
• For narrow-gauge tracks, light rail types R11, R18, R24 and R33 are used.
• Heavy crane structures are installed on rails of types KR70, KR80, KR100 and KR120.
• Grooved rail type is intended for tram tracks: T58, T62.