As one of the most important transportation tools, railway brings much convenience to people’s traveling and cargo transportation. It promotes the development of tourism and culture communication, greatly increasing the development of economy. But the safety of railway is important, and we have heard many railway accidents. Rail fastening system plays an important role in the security of railway, of which rail spike is crucial in fastening the rail to railway sleeper or railroad tie.
Rail spike, also called railway spike and railroad spike, is a very simple and inconspicuous component in rail track but it is vital in fastening the rail to sleeper. It helps to keep certain rail gauge and prevent the vertical and horizontal movement of rail track.
Railway Spike's Main Types - Dog Spike & Screw Spike
Rail spike is designed for the wooden sleeper initially and it has the features of easily nailing into the sleeper and fastening the rail track. At that time, only dog spikes are used, the shape of dog spike is similar to a large nail with an offset. Screw spike is applied to securing rail track until the use of concrete sleeper. Compared with the nailing of dog spike, the anchoring of screw spike needs to be inserted in the reserved hole in the concrete sleeper with special proportion of sulfur mixture. Scientifically speaking, rail spike is a kind of fasteners used for connecting the sleeper with rail track or tie plate.
How to Fasten Dog Spike to Rail Sleepers?
Dog spike is a large nail applied to securing the safety of rails and it is driven into the sleeper by spike maul with the edge against the resistance to loosening. With the function of keeping the rail in gauge, dog spike are various in types sizes to suit the most applications.
How to Fasten Screw Spikes to Sleepers?
With the application of concrete sleepers, more and more screw spikes are needed in the construction of rail track. Before using concrete sleeper or replacing screw spikes, it is necessary to anchor and fasten rail spikes.
Materials Needed to Fasten Screw Spikes
- Sulfur: Second or third level industrial sulfur, and the purify degree should be no lower than 95%. Remember smash the sulfur in to small pieces.
- Cement: Normal Portland cement, sieving the cement if there is some blocks.
- Sand: Natural grade of coarse sand, the diameter should be less than 2mm. Sieve, clean and dry off the sand before putting into use.
- Paraffin: Breaking into pieces before use.
NOTE: S(sulfur):C:S:P= 1:0.5:1.3:0.02
Procedures of Anchoring Screw Spike
- Put the sand into the pot and heat to 100℃ or 120℃, and add proportional cement, the mixture should be heated to about 130℃. Finally mix up the paraffin and sulfur with the sand and cement. Keep the mixture heated and stir the mixture. The heating features of mixture are melting at 80℃, rarefying at 130℃ to 140℃, thickening at 160, burning at 220℃. Stopping heating the anchoring pot when the mixture changes from dilute state to thickening, and the temperature at this time is 160℃ to 180℃.
- Put the mixture into the spike hole by grouting spoon equably, the mixture can’t fully submerge the hole. It is proper when the distance between the mixture and the top of spike hole is 10mm.
- Install the anchorage frame properly at the top of spike hole and align with the center of the hole. Nailing the screw spike through the anchor frame and slowly rotating the spike during the process of nailing. The spike should be inserted into spike ditch vertically without any improper insertion such as slanting or skewing. Remove the anchorage frame after the sulfur mixture is clotting.
- Clean the sulfur mixtures on the sleepers and the make surface tidy, in addition, the extra mixture can be used for next time’s using.
- Paint the screw spike with oil and install the rubber rail pad, rail iron plate, clip, washer and rail nut. If the replacement is at summer, the temperature of rails is high and the sulfur needs more time to solidify. So it’s improper to install the fasteners immediately.
Rail spike is vital for fastening the rail track and it also carries the holy mission of securing the safety of rail track. Rail spike is the witness of the building of every railroad. At the beginning and end of the construction, the first or last spike is usually nailed by prominent person present. On May 10, 1869, governor of California, president of the Pacific railroad, Stanford, bang the gold spike into the sleeper and pray for god’s blessing.
