Manufacture of Rail

2.1.10 SURFACE CLASSIFICATION (2003)

Rails which do not contain surface imperfections in such number or of such character as will, in the judgment
of the purchaser, render them unfit for recognized uses, shall be accepted.

2.1.10.1 Hot Marks

a. Rails with hot marks such as from shearing, scabs, pits, or hot scratches greater than 0.020 inch in depth
shall be rejected.

b. Rails with guide marks in the head greater than 0.020 inch deep or greater than 0.062 inch wide shall be
rejected.

2.1.10.2 Cold Scratches

a. Rails with longitudinal cold scratches, formed below 700 degrees F, exceeding 36 inches in length and/or
0.010 inch in depth shall be rejected.

b. Rails with transverse cold scratches, formed below 700 degrees F, which exceed 0.010 inch in depth shall
be rejected.

2.1.10.3 Protrusions

a. Rails with any protrusion of excess metal extending from the surface of the rail, such as could be caused
by a hole in the roll or a roll parting in the web shall be rejected if the protrusion affects the fit of the
joint bar or causes the fishing template to stand out more than 1/16 inch laterally.
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b. Rails with any protrusion in the web greater than 1/16 inch high and greater than 2 square inch in area
shall be rejected.

c. No protrusion of excess metal shall be allowed on the head or the base of the rail.

2.1.10.4 Surface Conditioning

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a. Surface imperfections may be corrected only by grinding and only with the purchaser’s approval.

b. If the purchaser agrees to surface conditioning, a plan containing a specific description of the work to be
performed must be furnished by the manufacturer to the purchaser for approval. The plan must ensure
that no metallurgical damage is done to the rail.
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2.1.11 Length (2017)

a. The standard length of rails shall be 39 feet and/or 80 feet, when corrected to a temperature of 60
degrees F. Other standard lengths may be specified by the purchaser.

(1) (HS) The use of 80 foot or longer rail is preferred for high speed rail. The use of rail 240 feet or
longer is recommended. Up to 7% of the order may contain shorter lengths of rail.

b. Up to 10 percent of standard length rail of the total tonnage accepted from each individual rolling will be
accepted in shorter lengths as follows:

Standard Length of Order: 80 feet 39 feet

Permissible Short Lengths: 78 36
74 33

© 2020, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association

AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering 4-2-17

Rail

Standard Length of Order: 80 feet 39 feet

70 30
66
60
39

c. Variations from the specified length will be permitted as follows:

Length > 40 Length  40

Undrilled -0, +6 inch -0, +4 inch
Drilled one end -0, +6 inch -0, +4 inch
Drilled both ends ±7/8 inch ±7 /16 inch

d. Standard short length variations other than those set forth in, paragraph b and paragraph c may be
established by agreement between the purchaser and manufacturer.

e. Lengths of rails shall be designated with proper color paint as set forth in Article 2.1.15.

2.1.12 DRILLING (1995)

a. The purchaser’s order shall specify the amount of right-hand drilled and left-hand drilled rails, drilled-
both-end rails and undrilled (blank) rails desired. The right-hand or left-hand end of the rail is
determined by facing the side of the rail on which the brand (raised characters) appears.

(1) When right-hand and left-hand drilling is specified, at least the minimum quantity of each indicated
by the purchaser will be supplied.

(2) Disposition of short rails which accrue from left-hand drilled, right-hand drilled, and undrilled
(blank) rail production, and which are acceptable in accordance with paragraph b shall be
established by agreement between the purchaser and the manufacturer.

b. Circular holes for joint bolts shall be drilled to conform to the drawings and dimensions furnished by the
purchaser.

(1) A variation of nothing under and 1/16 inch over in the size of the bolt holes will be permitted.

(2) A variation of 1/32 inch in the location of the holes will be permitted.

(3) The drilling process shall be controlled so as not to mechanically or metallurgically damage the rail.

c. Dressing of drilled rails shall be as follows:

(1) Chamfer the entrance and exit sides of the holes. Aim for 1/32 inch minimum chamfer at an aim
45 degree angle.

(2) Bevel grind the radius and sides of the rail head 1/16 inch back (+1/32 inch, –0 inches) by ⅛ inch
down (+1/16 inch, –0 inches) when looking at the rail face.

© 2020, American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association

4-2-18 AREMA Manual for Railway Engineering