Railway engineering: What is the importance of weight of rails on track failure?

Cornelius Thornborrow: What the gentleman above said and, in addition, the area over which the load is spread is increased by the roadbed structure itself, which also includes the ties and ballast, to reduce the forces present.There is a lot of "play", for lack of a better term, in all the components of the roadbed with the exception of gage. This allows forces to be further dissipated to lower those forces where wheel meets rail (Track Train Dynamics). This is easy to prove to yourself.The next time you see a train pass where the sideways view of the track structure is not impaired by a grade crossing, you'll notice as each set of wheels pass, the rail and ties compress to a certain degree into the ballast and is readily visible. This "give" actually allows the structure to handle more force, ie, weight. Just like the saying about the mighty oak tree... if it didn't bend in the high winds, it would be blown over or broken.When considering rail length, shorter pieces! of rail are not long enough to allow for greater compression as the equipment passes over. Try it with a new pencil in your hands. You can bend it to a certain degree before it snaps. Now, cut a one inch piece of it off and try to bend it. You'll find it doesn't bend too well. This is why there is a minimum length for pieces of rail being "spliced" into the rail's parameters. But, I don't remember what that length was or even what it was called. Around these parts I have heard these small pieces of rail referred to as a "Dutchman."When considering and comparing heavier rail, it should be noted that with heavier rail, all the dimensions of the components, base, web and ball change along with the weight. That is why lighter rail is used, as a rule, on branch lines, yards and industrial trackage, where speeds (forces) are much less....Show more

Ermelinda Stalnaker: they are generally on curves with a view to maintain the wheel flanges from slipping and inflictin! g a derailment. In some worldwide places with mixed gauge rail! ways, the traditional gauge being 5 ft, 8 & a 0.5 inches the third rail is used with the aid of narrow gauge trains. desire this enables.

Elmo Tervo: obviously an heavier rail will be able to take heavier loads ,,its as simple as that