The spikes used to fasten T-shaped railroad track to wooden ties have an L-shaped head and a square shank. The tip is wedge-shaped, not pointed. The wedge is driven into the tie across the grain, that is, parallel to the track.
Its square cross section gives a railroad spike much higher holding strength than a fastener having the same amount of metal but a circular cross section has; roughly speaking, about 50% more. A spike with the wedge driven across the grain will have about twice as much holding power as one driven with the grain. Early experiments showed that pulling out a 9/16″ × 9/16″ spike driven 4¼ inches into dry cedar required on average a force of 857 pounds. In seasoned oak, another experimenter needed 4281 pounds.
Current standards for track spikes define two grades: 1 (soft) and 2 (high carbon). The stronger high carbon spikes must be marked “HC”.
| Length under head (inches) |
Width of shank side (inches) |
Number in a 200-pound keg |
|---|---|---|
| 5½ | 9/16 | 360 |
| 5 | 9/16 | 405 |
| 4½ | 9/16 | 460 |
| 5 | ½ | 505 |
| 4½ | ½ | 535 |
| 4 | ½ | 605 |
| 3½ | ½ | 670 |
| 4½ | 7/16 | 690 |
| 4 | 7/16 | 780 |
| 3½ | 7/16 | 890 |
| 4½ | 3/8 | 780 |
| 4 | 3/8 | 1025 |
| 3½ | 3/8 | 1250 |
| 3 | 3/8 | 1380 |
| 2½ | 5/16 | 1650 |
ASTM A65-01. Standard Specification for Steel Track Spikes. For ASTM standards, access www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards volume information, refer to the standard's Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
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Last revised: 17 July 2002.