We have a stack of rail, it appears to be 75#, but it doesn't match the dimensions that I've found online.

What we have has a 4.75" base, and is 4.5" tall. The head is 2.5" wide.
It was rolled by Carnegie, in 1904. Also, it has 'ET' rolled into it. The bolt holes are 2" and 9" from the end. The line it came from was Southern Railway.

I'm hoping to determine the type, i.e. ASCE, SOU, whatever, so that it's easier to sound like I know what I'm talking about when I ask people about it.

I've been to a couple websites, A&K materials, Merrilees, and neither have these dimensions listed.

I'm interested in this, as we need joint bars for this rail. The holes would be 7",4",7" apart, with 18" between the outer holes. Probably 25 or 30 pair.

Thank you for any assistance.

James

Thank you for any help.

Sure sounds like Southern 75# ASCE -- definitely "Southern" punch. I would imagine that you have about 5/16 head wear or some battered rail ends on that rail and that may be what is throwing you off. Make sure you measure well in from the joint bars to get a more accurate "read" on the dimensions.

I'd suggest getting a copy of "Southern Railway Standards of the Department of Maintenance of Way and Structures, Volume 1" -- it should be available from the Southern Railway Historical Association. It gives you a lot of neat information including rail sections from 60# to 85#. As far as vendors for your joint bars, try JRC in Knoxville -- Larry or David can probably help you find them if they don't have them. Unitrac used to be a good source as well, but I've been told they are no longer doing anything with small rail.

Commercial Metals had a man make a list of all known rail sizes, and by all the different numbers. The list shows all base, height, head, web fishing, and bar height. The booklet is long out of print but I have made copies of it for distribution to the museums. Email me at h_k_nicholls@peoplepc.com and I will send a printed copy to you. The list is on 8.5" X 17" paper so any postage sent to me will be appreciated. My mailing address is P O Box 224288, Dallas, TX 75222-4288. If requested, I can send a jpg but it will take some time as the list is 13 pages.

I will be leaving for track repairs in Long Leaf, LA. later this week, so do not delay.

Harry Nicholls

Thank you both for your help. I'll look into getting both books.

James

Harry,

I'd be surprised if he actually got every rail size on there. I have so many lists of rail sections it's amazing, and none of them are truly complete. Take 90# for example, it was like there was a college class project "Everybody design a section of 90 pound rail, and NO COPYING!" 90RA, 90RB, 90GN, 9020, 9030, 90AS, and those are just the ones I see on a regular basis.

That said, would you be interested in posting that list on a website? I can host it someplace on one of my sites, and you could point people to the link where the could download it. Let me know if that's of interest to you.

Bob,

Yes, i would like to have this posted for everyone's benefit. I spoke to the gentleman several years ago and he also had a cross reference for axles. I was never able to see him to obtain that info. He did say that he had spent several years researching the rails for Commercial Metals, so the company thought enough about the work that they did pay him to finish it as complete as possible. This may not have everyone of the rail types, but it is as close as we will have.

That said, call me and I will send it to you.

Harry 214-941-9705