AboutChris Holliday Expertise Questions related to contemporary passenger rail vehicles and their technology, including subway, light rail, commuter and intercity rolling stock. Includes all vehicle systems and features along with integration of the vehicles into the general railroad system.
Experience I have over 22 years of experience in the passenger rail vehicle business as both an engineering manager at a car builder and as a provider of engineering services to commuter railroads and transit agencies in the US. I have worked to apply the latest technologies to passanger rail equipment. I have worked with leaders in our industry to develop and establish Standards and Recommended practices.
Question What is the difference between rails - such as 134 lb. vs. 132 lb.?
Answer Thanks for your question.
The description of rail in this way refers to the weight of a linear yard of a given cross section of rail. This is basically a measure of how much steel makes up the rail section. The higher the number of pounds per linear yard, the heavier the load the rail can carry. The variation in this value can be tied to the profiles of the different mills which roll the rail. In your example, the 134 lbs steel may be associated with a particular mill or manufacturer vs. the 132 lbs variety. There is probably someone out there who would know which mill made which type, but I am not that person! The functional difference between the two is negligible.
