Railroad Spike 5/8"x6" | Track Fasteners

History of Railroad Spikes

Railroad Spike is a fastener used to secure railway tracks to wooden ties or sleepers. It is a large nail with a flat head and a square shank that is driven into the tie to hold the rails and base plates in place.The railroad spike was invented around 1830 by Robert Livingston Stevens, president of the Camden & Amboy Railroad, to secure the new flat-bottomed rails to wooden ties. Its invention was part of the industrialization in the early 19th century, offering a simpler alternative to the heavy cast iron chairs used in England. The first recorded use was in 1832, and it became the most common rail fastening in North America by 1982. The main function of the spike is to ensure a correct gauge position.

Railroad Spikes(more than one hundred ago)

Different Types of Railroad Spikes

Dog spike - named because of the two lugs on either side, the dog spike looks just like the dog’s head. Dog spikes come in different sizes.

They come in different sizes to suit varying requirements for penetration length, commonly including sizes like 5/8 inch by 6 inches and 9/16 inch by 5-1/2 inches for smaller rail sections. Other sizes are also available, with dimensions like 3/8 inch by 3-1/2 inches and 1/2 inch by 3-1/2 inches being mentioned, and lengths can be customized based on specific needs.

Common sizes: The most common sizes for North American markets are 5/8 in. x 6 in. and 9/16 in. x 5-1/2 in.

Customization: Kunshan Signum Machinery Technology Co.,Ltd can produce spikes in many different lengths and shank diameters to meet specific customer or standard requirements.

Other sizes: Other examples of available sizes include 3/8 in. x 3-1/2 in. and 1/2 in. x 3-1/2 in.

Length variations: Spikes are provided in different sizes to meet the requirements for penetrating length into the wooden ties.