Discover the practical history and manufacture of steel rails, with clear guidance for rolling stock and track design.
This authoritative volume gathers the development, properties, and strength of steel rails, emphasizing real-world results over theory. It also surveys rail specifications and the careful work behind standards used by railroads in the United States and abroad.
This edition presents a comprehensive, field-ready view of steel rails, from the processes of manufacture to the forces rails endure in service. It includes detailed discussions of rail strengths, testing methods, and the influence of manufacture on performance, along with appendices that compile important rail specifications and key references.
- How steel rails are produced in stages and how each step affects the finished product
- How rails behave under wheel loads, rail stresses, and joint effects
- Practical guidance on track components, tie bearing, ballast, and subgrade
- Standards, specifications, and bibliographies used by engineers and builders
Ideal for practicing engineers, students, and anyone involved in rail design, maintenance, and inspection who needs a solid, reference‑level view of rails and track systems.