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ID this rail?

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2022 8:46 pm
by Glenn Brooks
Hello all,

I recently acquired a quantity of rail from an estate. 3000’ of this unusual light rail was included in the purchase. Iam trying to identify origin and what it has been used for. We have some similar rail down in Phoenix, with MLS. It has been suggested this profile was originally used with MTC G-12
Train sets.


Dims are: 2” tall, 2 1/4” base, 3/4” head, 5/32” web thickness.

This rail is generally same dimensions as 12# rail, but about half the weight…

Anybody have any suggestions?

Thanks
Glenn

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2022 10:05 pm
by Bill Shields
Rusty?

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2022 10:33 pm
by NP317
Use it for storage, sidings and passing tracks.
RussN

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:43 pm
by 0351
My guess it’s factory G16/G12 rail.
It had a slightly narrower railhead than 12lb.
Glenn, few months back you you had mentioned some 8lb rail that need pulled up, is this the rail what you were talking about ?

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2022 9:27 am
by Erskine Tramway
It's called 'sub-purlin' rail. It's intended purpose was as part of roof framing in (usually) steel buildings. In the late '50s, early '60s there were a couple clubs in suburban Chicago using it for rail.

Mike

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2022 10:57 am
by Glenn Brooks
0351 wrote: Tue Dec 20, 2022 11:43 pm My guess it’s factory G16/G12 rail.
It had a slightly narrower railhead than 12lb.
Glenn, few months back you you had mentioned some 8lb rail that need pulled up, is this the rail what you were talking about ?
Yes, this was included in a purchase of 8# rail from an estate. They had used this rail with the 8# rail in trackage.

Mike, thanks for the info.

Glenn

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Wed Dec 21, 2022 8:02 pm
by STRR
Glenn,

I have to agree with Mike as I have 8, 10, and 12 lb rail profiles and that one is thinner than the 10 lb I have. With that skinny web, I wonder how much weight it could safely handle?

Good Luck.

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Wed Jan 25, 2023 6:23 am
by Trainman4602
This is not Railroad Rail at all. It is an industrial shape that is used on the underside of steel trusses to build a dropped ceiling. I had some of this stuff years ago. although it looks similar to rail it is not used for that purpose it can be but as you can see the rail head is sharp not radius like actual rail. At one time I had 15,000 feet of 8 pound sold it all.

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Sun Feb 12, 2023 10:54 pm
by Greg_Lewis
Glenn, please check your private messages. Thanks.

Re: ID this rail?

Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2023 4:07 am
by Glenn Brooks
Hi,Greg,
Thanks. Saw your pm. Sent you a quick update via PM.

Glenn