RAIL END BATTER; CAUSES AND REMEDIES

Testing of various methods of building up rail ends by welding was explored. Nine railroads and one contract welder were invited to weld 50 joints each, using the procedures in use on their own railroads. Seven of the panels were welded by the oxyacetylene process, three panels by the d.c. electric arc process, and one panel by the a.c. electric arc process. A record was made of the net time required by the welder and helper to do the welding, and the amount of welding rod, oxygen and acetylene or gasoline used. The procedure on each panel was presented. The following conclusions were reached. 1) Satisfactory welding can be done by either the oxyacetylene or electric arc process. 2) The cost of labor and fuel is higher for the oxyacetylene process than for the electric arc. 3) The investment in equipment for the oxyacetylene process is less than that for the electric arc process. 4) The cost of reconditioning rail ends by heating and forging is nearly the same as that for building up by welding by the oxyacetylene process. 5) There is no advantage of multiflame oxyacetylene tips. 6) The rail should be preheated before electric welding. 7) Grinding produces a better surface than finishing by forging. 8) The skill of the welder is a very important factor.

• Corporate Authors:

  American Railway Engineering Association

  59 East Van Buren Street
  Chicago, IL  United States  60605
• Publication Date: 1951

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 629-633
• Serial:
  • AREA BULLETIN
  • Volume: 52
  • Publisher: American Railway Engineering Association

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Equipment; Railroad rails; Welding
• Old TRIS Terms: Rail end batter; Rail welding; Welding equipment
• Subject Areas: Construction; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00052439
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Association of American Railroads
• Report/Paper Numbers: Proceeding
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 15 1976 12:00AM