Rails :- A rail is a horizontally extending steel bar between supports that serves as a track for trains, automobiles, and other vehicles.

Types of Rails :-

There are three types of rails:

1. Double-headed rails
2. Bull-headed rails
3. Flat-footed rails

• Double-headed rails :- These rails indicate the early stage of development. It essentially consists of three parts,

  • Upper Table
  • Web
  • Lower Table

Both the upper and lower tables were identical and they were introduced with the hope of double doubling the life of rails. When the upper table is worn out then the rails can be placed upside down reversed on the chair and so the lower table can be brought into use. But this idea soon turned out to b wrong because due to continuous contract of lower table with the chair made the surface of lower table rough and hence the smooth running of the train was impossible. Therefore, this type of rail is practically out of use.

• Bull-headed rails :- This type of rail also consists of three parts,

  • The Head
  • The Web
  • The Foot

These rails were made of steel. The head is of larger size than foot and the foot is designed only to hold up properly the wooden keys with which rails are secured. Thus, the foot is designed only to furnish necessary strength and stiffness to rails. Two cast iron chairs are required per each sleeper when these rails are adopted. Their weight ranges from 85lb to 95lb and their length is up to 60 ft.

• Flat-footed rails :- These rails were first of all invented by Charles Vignoles in 1836 and hence these rails are also called vignols rails. It consist of three parts

  • The Head
  • The Web
  • The Foot

The foot is spread out to form a base. This form of rail has become so much popular that about 90% of railway tracks in the world are laid with this form of rails.