Guard Rails

Click Image to Open PDF Adobe Acrobat PDF icon

A Guard Rail is a rail laid parallel with the running rails to hold wheels in correct alignment. Guard rails are most commonly used opposite a frog where they prevent derailments and protect the point of the frog.American Mining Congress Design guard rails (shown below) are used with light rails in mines and industrial plants. They have the ˚ares bent and the ˚anges removed, and are equipped with blocks and bolts for mounting onto the stock rails. American Mining Congress recommended lengths are 4 feet 6 inches for No. 2, 2-1/2 and 3 frogs; 6 feet 0 inches for No. 4, 5 and 6 frogs and 8 feet 3 inches for No. 7 and No. 8 frogs. A 1-5/8 inches ˚angeway width is standard for rails up to 75 lb. A 1-7/8 inches ˚angeway width is standard on 80 lb and above.AREMA Design guard rails are planed and beveled, and are equipped with distinct end and separator blocks. These blocks come complete with bolts, nuts, spring washers, head locks and web washers. These guard rails are commonly used with single plates (either ˚at or shouldered) or twin tie plates (either ˚at or hook). The standard lengths, and quantities of blocks and single plates are given in the tables below.GUARD RAILSCenter of guard rail 9 inches Separator block 1-7/8 inches 2-1/2 inches 3-1/2 inches + 4 feet 0-1/2 inches 5 inches 4 feet 0-1/2 inches 12 inches 24 inches 3 feet 5 inches Straight guarding face 24 inches 12 inches 9 feet 5 inches Base -1/8 inches Length to suit rail section 7 inches or 8 inches 3/4 inches 3 inches Head+Base+FLGY-1/16 inches 3/8 inches 1-7/8 inches + 1-7/8 inches +Flangeway width 7/8 inches 1-7/8 inches 1 inches Section thruend blockSection thruseparation blockGuard-rail tie plateAREMA Design Plan 504-71 Length Separator End Plates Block Block 9 feet 5 inches 1 2 7 12 feet 6 inches 2 2 9 15 feet 0 inches 2 2 10 AREMA Design Plan 504-89 Length Separator End Plates Block Block 13 feet 0 inches 2 2 9 16 feet 6 inches 3 2 11 20 feet 0 inches 4 2 13