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Posted: 4/30/2024 3:29:28 AM EDT
I have seen countless spikes over the course of my career. Cans of spikes, bags of spikes, piles of spikes, spikes laying all over in the ballast, etc. I have used them as field expedient chisels, prybars, wedges, etc. But this one laying between the rails caught my eye today, I don’t recall having ever seen one as long as this. Is there a reason/application for this? Or is it basically some sort of manufacturing anomaly/defect?
Pic showing it next to a typical spike:  Attached File |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 3:32:46 AM EDT
[#1]
Genetics...
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Posted: 4/30/2024 3:33:44 AM EDT
[#2]
Oh...and you're a fucking box 'engineer'?
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Posted: 4/30/2024 8:14:08 AM EDT
[#3]
The shorter one on the right is a track spike - very common and 6” long under the head x 5/8” thick. They are often bought in 50 or 200 count cans and cost about $2.50 each new, though quantity discounts in rail material purchasing is common. Track spikes may also be only 5.5” long for older, smaller rail.
The longer spike may have been from switch ties where there are more lateral forces. |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 8:17:12 AM EDT
[#4]
Neat !
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Posted: 4/30/2024 8:21:32 AM EDT
[#5]
Hold me close young gandy dancer...
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TX, USA
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Posted: 4/30/2024 8:23:32 AM EDT
[#6]
Right one looks like standard caucasian issue, the one on the left….
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Posted: 4/30/2024 8:26:37 AM EDT
[#7]
Only time I have seen the longer ones was in Connecticut on the Long Island sound.
Dock workers were using them framing a crane pad at the Q Bridge. |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 8:34:34 AM EDT
[#8]
Too beaucoup
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Posted: 4/30/2024 9:39:44 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By juan223: Oh...and you're a fucking box 'engineer'? Spent most of my career working as a switchman interspersed with a few years here and there as a conductor or brakeman on various pool, local and work train assignments. I have never said otherwise. Yes, RCO came in and that was that. Being a locomotive engineer always intrigued me, but unfortunately it was also always too restrictive seniority-wise. Been happy with my career. 
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Posted: 4/30/2024 9:49:56 AM EDT
[#10]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By amax50robar: The shorter one on the right is a track spike - very common and 6” long under the head x 5/8” thick. They are often bought in 50 or 200 count cans and cost about $2.50 each new, though quantity discounts in rail material purchasing is common. Track spikes may also be only 5.5” long for older, smaller rail. The longer spike may have been from switch ties where there are more lateral forces. Thanks. I wondered about that as I found it not too far from where a switch panel was recently constructed and replaced. Still, over the course of my career I have casually watched probably at least a couple of dozen of new ones be assembled, installed and the old ones left laying around and never noticed the longer spikes before. It also seems like they usually use the giant screws/lag bolts on the switch panels. Maybe they are trying something different. Or maybe since the switch panels are hand built, there isn’t a spike driving machine dropping them all over the place. |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 1:39:43 PM EDT
[Last Edit: tep0583]
[#11]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Boomer: Thanks. I wondered about that as I found it not too far from where a switch panel was recently constructed and replaced. Still, over the course of my career I have casually watched probably at least a couple of dozen of new ones be assembled, installed and the old ones left laying around and never noticed the longer spikes before. It also seems like they usually use the giant screws/lag bolts on the switch panels. Maybe they are trying something different. Or maybe since the switch panels are hand built, there isn’t a spike driving machine dropping them all over the place. Interesting. I have a few switches very close. Never seen any of these spikes, which really only means they probably don't drop them as readily. I'll take a look around the switches later, to see if I can spot one. |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 4:13:21 PM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Boomer: Spent most of my career working as a switchman interspersed with a few years here and there as a conductor or brakeman on various pool, local and work train assignments. I have never said otherwise. Yes, RCO came in and that was that. Being a locomotive engineer always intrigued me, but unfortunately it was also always too restrictive seniority-wise. Been happy with my career. I'm dead on HOS as I type this, every trip we're blowing up a unit on an already underpowered train...lack of maintenance is catching up and it ain't even summer yet. Locos will be dropping like flies... |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 4:14:48 PM EDT
[#13]
It's a "Bunker Buster" spike...
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Posted: 4/30/2024 4:19:37 PM EDT
[Last Edit: 9divdoc]
[#14]
I hammered many a spike on a couple of tie gangs back 50yrs ago...and I'm stumped.
First guess it's an anomaly in manufacturing? or due to tie material...softer vs harder woods? I'm curious now too I'd guess some company ordered up specialty spikes for a particular geographic area or tie material... 6"-6.5" being about the norm. |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 5:58:15 PM EDT
[#15]
 Screw spikes are also called rail screw. They can be used in both wood and concrete ties. They can have square or hex heads and come in different lengths. |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 6:32:14 PM EDT
[#16]
25 years and I never saw a spike that long, sent the pic to a track worker I know so maybe he'll have the answer.
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Posted: 4/30/2024 7:01:20 PM EDT
[#17]
Boomer..he said they are bridge spikes.
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Posted: 4/30/2024 11:15:02 PM EDT
[#18]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Will220: Boomer..he said they are bridge spikes. That was kinda my first thought...I've spiked alot of switch ties...never did a bridge. |
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Posted: 4/30/2024 11:21:52 PM EDT
[#19]
Those will breach the second wall.
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Posted: 4/30/2024 11:23:58 PM EDT
[#20]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Will220: Boomer..he said they are bridge spikes. ... |
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Posted: 5/20/2024 1:18:08 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By CanaryCamaro: Right one looks like standard caucasian issue, the one on the left…. Any thoughts about the one on the left here?  Attached File |
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Posted: 5/20/2024 3:49:47 PM EDT
[#22]
Probably an Asian railroad...
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Boomer: Any thoughts about the one on the left here? https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/2117/IMG_2902_jpeg-3219127.JPG |
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