RIBBONS OF STEEL : TO COPE WITH HEAVIER TRAINS AND MORE TRAFFIC, RAIL IS GETTING BIGGER AND BETTER - AND SOME OF IT IS MADE IN JAPAN

This article presents an overview of improvements in the production of rail for U.S. Class I railroads. The use of heavier rail, frequent rail grinding, continuos casting and improved metallurgy has extended rail life by producing higher-quality rail. Rail wear and deformation is worsened at curves and grades requiring the implementation of head-hardening and lubrication systems to reduce rail wear and make rail at curves more wear resistant. Rail-grinding is used to address the problem of cracks and defects in the rails known as fatigue. This article also addresses the rise of rail exports from Japan to the U.S. Recently foreign imports have made up 20% - %30 of the U.S. rail market.