Definition of Rails
A rail is a steel bar extending horizontally between supports which is used as a track for rail road, cars
or other vehicles.
Types of Rails
Rails can be divided in three types
1. Double Headed Rails
2. Bull Headed Rails
3. Flat Footed Rails
1. Double Headed Rails
These rails indicate the early stage of development. It essentially consists of three parts,
• Upper Table
• Web
• Lower Table
Both the upper and lower tables were identical (same dimensions) and they were introduced with the
hope of doubling the life of rails. When the upper table is worn out then the rails can be placed upside
down reversed on the chair and so the lower table can be brought into use. But this idea soon turned
out to be wrong because due to continuous contact of lower table with the chair made the surface of
lower table rough and hence the smooth running of the train was impossible. Therefore, this type of
rail is practically out of use. Nowadays, these rails vary in lengths from 20 – 24ft. A 45kgs double
headed rail is shown in the figure.
, Bull Headed Rails
This type of rail also consists of three parts,
• The Head
• The Web
• The Foot
These rails were made of steel. The head is of larger size than foot and the foot is designed only to hold
up properly the wooden keys with which rails are secured. Thus, the foot is designed only to furnish
necessary strength and stiffness to rails. Two cast iron chairs are required per each sleeper when these
rails are adopted. Their weight ranges from 38kgs to 43kgs and their length is up to 60 ft.
, Advantages of Bull Headed Rails
1. They keep better alignment and give a more solid and smoother track.
2. The rails can be easily removed and replaced quickly. Hence renewal of track is
easy.
3. The heavy chair with a large bearing on sleepers gives longer life to the wooden
sleepers and greater stability to the track.
4. These rails facilitate easy manufacturing of points and crossings. Disadvantages
of Bull Headed Rails
1. They require costly fastenings.
2. They have less strength and stiffness.
3. They require heavy maintenance cost.
A rail is a steel bar extending horizontally between supports which is used as a track for rail road, cars
or other vehicles.
Types of Rails
Rails can be divided in three types
1. Double Headed Rails
2. Bull Headed Rails
3. Flat Footed Rails
1. Double Headed Rails
These rails indicate the early stage of development. It essentially consists of three parts,
• Upper Table
• Web
• Lower Table
Both the upper and lower tables were identical (same dimensions) and they were introduced with the
hope of doubling the life of rails. When the upper table is worn out then the rails can be placed upside
down reversed on the chair and so the lower table can be brought into use. But this idea soon turned
out to be wrong because due to continuous contact of lower table with the chair made the surface of
lower table rough and hence the smooth running of the train was impossible. Therefore, this type of
rail is practically out of use. Nowadays, these rails vary in lengths from 20 – 24ft. A 45kgs double
headed rail is shown in the figure.
, Bull Headed Rails
This type of rail also consists of three parts,
• The Head
• The Web
• The Foot
These rails were made of steel. The head is of larger size than foot and the foot is designed only to hold
up properly the wooden keys with which rails are secured. Thus, the foot is designed only to furnish
necessary strength and stiffness to rails. Two cast iron chairs are required per each sleeper when these
rails are adopted. Their weight ranges from 38kgs to 43kgs and their length is up to 60 ft.
, Advantages of Bull Headed Rails
1. They keep better alignment and give a more solid and smoother track.
2. The rails can be easily removed and replaced quickly. Hence renewal of track is
easy.
3. The heavy chair with a large bearing on sleepers gives longer life to the wooden
sleepers and greater stability to the track.
4. These rails facilitate easy manufacturing of points and crossings. Disadvantages
of Bull Headed Rails
1. They require costly fastenings.
2. They have less strength and stiffness.
3. They require heavy maintenance cost.
