What Grade of Steel Is Railroad Track? 1084, Carbon Content & Rail Steel Grades

railroad track high carbon steel surface close up showing wear resistance

Most websites will tell you that railroad tracks are made from “1084 steel.” That’s not entirely wrong — but it’s far from the full story. Railroad tracks are typically made from high-carbon steel containing around 0.70–0.85% carbon and 0.70–1.20% manganese, which makes them behave similarly to 1084. However, modern rail is not defined by AISI … Read more