SPRING-STEEL RAIL SPIKES

The Macbeth spike is described and physical properties of the No. 2 and No. 3 spike are given. The spike has undergone exhaustive trials and has proved to be completely effective. The following advantages are claimed: 1. They are easily fitted with no other tool than a hammer. 2. They are easily extracted by use of a simple tool. 3. Having round legs driven into round holes, they do not split the timber as do square spikes. 4. The spacing of the legs avoids piercing the heart of the timber, thus preventing splitting. 5. The elastic spring grip on the rail is more than sufficient to provide, without constant attention, for wear of either the wood sleepers or the baseplate. 6. The grip anchoring rail to sleeper is greater than the creep resistance to be obtained from the ballast. 7. The grip of the two legs in the timber considerably exceeds that of a single-legged spike used in similar conditions. 8. The rail can be held to gauge, and the sleeper and rail held in permanent contact under all conditions by the same spike.

• Corporate Authors:

  Temple Press Limited

  161-166 Fleet Street
  Longon EC4,   England 
• Publication Date: 1948-2-13

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos;
• Pagination: p. 191-192
• Serial:
  • RAILWAY GAZETTE
  • Volume: 88

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Fastenings; Railroad rails; Railroad tracks; Spikes; Technology
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• Subject Areas: Materials; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00037928
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Dec 4 1994 12:00AM