Pros And Cons Of Railroad Spikes

Railroad spikes (dog spikes) offer pros like low cost, ease of installation, and simple maintenance, making them great for branch lines, but have cons including lower holding power than screws, susceptibility to loosening, rust, and potential breakage, especially under heavy loads or high-speed stress, leading to increased upkeep and safety concerns compared to modern elastic fastenings. 

Pros of Railroad Spikes:

• Cost-Effective: Generally cheaper to manufacture and install than more complex systems.

• Easy Installation: Quick to drive into timber ties.

• Simpler Maintenance: Relatively straightforward to remove and replace during track maintenance.

• Good Holding Power (for basic use): The chisel point driven perpendicular to the wood grain provides decent resistance to lateral movement.

• Versatile (Historically): Widely used for decades, especially on lighter-duty lines. 

Cons of Railroad Spikes:

• Lower Fixing Power: Less powerful than screw spikes and modern elastic clips, especially under heavy loads.

• Prone to Loosening: Can work loose over time from vibrations and traffic, compromising gauge.

• Tie Damage: Can damage timber ties, leading to premature tie replacement.

• Corrosion & Fatigue: Susceptible to rust and fatigue, potentially leading to breakage (often below tie surface).

• High Maintenance: Require more frequent inspection and replacement due to loosening and failure, increasing upkeep costs.

• Not Ideal for High Speed/Heavy Haul: Insufficient for demanding applications where high-precision, robust fastening is crucial. 

Railroad spikes are a time-tested, cost-effective, and reliable fastening system for securing rails to wooden ties in many rail applications. Their simplicity, ease of installation, flexibility, and compatibility with wooden ties make them a popular choice in freight, commuter, and heritage rail systems.

Modern systems often use screw spikes, which offer much greater holding power and less tie damage, or elastic clips (like E-clips, SKL) that provide superior vibration absorption, elastic resistance, and easier rail replacement without damaging ties, making spikes more common on older or less critical lines. 

Please feel free to contact us for quotes, product samples, or further inquiries. We are happy to assist you with any project, no matter the size.

Contact Details:

Phone: +86 512 50353196

Email: admin@railway-fastening.com

Website: www.rail-fastening.com

Address: 120 Tongjing Road, Lujia Town, Kunshan, Jiangsu 215331, China