FIELD END HARDENING OF RAIL BY THE AIR REDUCTION CO. METHOD

Two and seven-tenths miles of 140-lb. PS rail, laid in No. 3 track were utilized for this test. End hardening rail in track was completed on June 18, 1953 in conjunction with the laying of new 140-lb. PS rail. A total of 279 joints were hardened at a cost of $0.39 per joint. The high temperatures necessary for the end hardening process had a damaging effect on the No-Ox-Id protective coating applied to the rail web in the joint area. The heat treatment caused an average increase in Brinell hardness of about 50 points. A visual inspection of the test stretch in 1959 confirmed previous observations that mill end hardened rail was more resistant to impact and had fewer battered joints than did either of the other two types. In view of the fact that mill end hardened rail is now available from all mills serving the Pennsylvania Railroad there is no advantage to be gained from end hardening new rail in the field, except as indicated above for cut ends in continuous welded rail.

• Corporate Authors:

  Penn Central Transportation Company

  Transportation Center, 6 Penn Center Plaza
  Philadelphia, PA  United States  19104
• Authors:
  • Code, C J
• Publication Date: 1960-2-18

Media Info

• Features: Figures; Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 22 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Field tests; Hardness; Impact loads; Metal heating; Rail (Railroads); Stresses; Technology; Thermal stresses; Welded rail
• Uncontrolled Terms: Heat treatment
• Geographic Terms: United States
• Old TRIS Terms: Impact loading; Rail end batter
• Subject Areas: Materials; Railroads;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00040287
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: Test No. 620 Test Rpt
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Jul 8 1994 12:00AM