5/8″ × 6″ AREMA Cut Spike | Chinese Supplier

What “5/8″ × 6″ AREMA Cut Spike” means

• 5/8″ — this is the nominal cross‑section (width / “square size”) of the spike shaft. In railroad‑spike usage this is roughly the diameter or “gauge” of the spike. 

• 6″ — this is the length of the spike. A 6‑inch spike is a standard length for rail spikes used on wooden ties in many North American and international track settings. 

• AREMA — refers to compliance with the standards of the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance-of-Way Association (AREMA). In practice this means the spike meets certain dimensional and material specifications required for safe, standard railroad use in the U.S. and North America. 

• Cut Spike (or “railroad spike”,“dog spike”,“track spike”) — this is the traditional type of rail fastener: a large steel spike driven through a tie‑plate (or directly) into a wooden tie (sleeper) to hold a rail in gauge and in place. 

In short: this is a standard-size, American-standard rail spike for traditional wood-tie track — widely used across freight, passenger, and industrial rail applications.

Typical Specs and Physical Properties

• Length: 6 inches (as above) 

• Cross‑section (“square size”/ equivalent diameter): 5/8 inch. 

• Approximate Weight: Many commercially available 5/8″ × 6″ spikes weigh roughly 0.8 lb (≈ 360–370 g) per spike. 

• Material: Typically made of carbon steel or “track‑steel” quality steel. Soft‑steel track spikes is available in our workshop, but to meet AREMA requirements, we normally choose 35# steel to meet certain tensile‑strength and yield specifications. 

• Surface / Coating: Some spikes come plain/black; others are galvanized or otherwise coated depending on exposure conditions or buyer requirements. 

Main Uses & Typical Applications

The 5/8″ × 6″ AREMA cut spike is among the most common, traditional rail fasteners in North American wood-tie track systems. Typical uses include:

• Mainline and freight railroads — securing rails to wooden ties in standard ballasted tracks. The 5/8″ × 6″ spike is often referenced in railway standards for such track work. 

• Industrial spurs and sidings — often used on industrial tracks, yard tracks, or private‑industry rail spurs where wood ties are still common. 

• Track repair and maintenance — for replacing worn or missing spikes on existing ties, or for short sections of new wood‑tie track construction. 

• Heritage railroads, steam‑era restorations, and low‑speed branch lines -for historical or lighter-traffic lines that retain wood-tie construction rather than upgraded concrete or slab track.

Strengths & Limitations of 5/8″ × 6″ AREMA Cut Spikes

Strengths:

• Well‑standardized — widely recognized and used in North America, meaning ready availability of supply.

• Simple and fast to install — spikes can be driven using standard track hammers (spike mauls) or pneumatic spiking machines. 

• Effective for traditional wood‑tie track with tie plates, rail base plates, and standard rail sections.

• Cost‑effective and proven over decades of rail use.

Limitations:

Primarily suited for wooden ties — not ideal for concrete or pre‑stressed concrete ties without additional anchor systems. 

Over time, under heavy loading or shifting ballast, cut‑spike track may loosen more than more modern fastening systems (e.g. screw spikes, clip-based rail fasteners).

Less robust than modern fastenings under conditions of heavy dynamic loading, high vibration, or frequent maintenance cycles.

If You’re Buying Spikes — What to Check / Ask

If you’re shopping for 5/8″ × 6″ AREMA spikes (or similar):

• Confirm AREMA compliance — ensures material / dimension quality needed for rail use.

• Check material grade — high-carbon or track‑steel rather than soft mild steel for strength & wear resistance.

• Confirm surface treatment — plain vs. galvanized vs. coated (depending on environment, weather, moisture).

• Confirm quantity packaging / keg weight — spikes often sold in kegs (e.g. 100 lb keg) for industrial / rail use. 

• Ensure the rail base plate and tie plate configuration matches the spikes (tie plate hole size, rail section, etc.).

Kunshan Signum Machinery Technology Co.,Ltd offer railway cut spikes according to clients’ requirements or drawings with competitive price.Besides 5/8"x6", we can also offer track spikes  with 9/16"x5-1/2" size.