Holding on tight: keeping the elements of track in place is a challenging job, but fastener suppliers are offering new, improved products to meet this challenge

Railway Track and Structures, June, 2003 by Tom Judge

US&F: New designs

"United Steel & Fasteners Research and Development Team is constantly designing and developing more effective and efficient fastening components and systems for testing, evaluation and eventual market introduction," said Robert Fiorio, sales manager. "US&F's Quality Control laboratory is NVLAP-certified by the U.S. Department of Commerce, National Institute of Standards & Technology. This accreditation has led to several new products gaining approval for use by several Class 1 railroads and others.

"Our 'G' Rail Clip and the PR601 Rail Clip are proven performers and value leaders for Class 1, transit authorities, trackwork manufacturers, shortlines, regional operators and industrial railways throughout North America," he noted. "Additionally, our 1-inch and 1-3/8-inch bolt diameter metal-insert heavy square locknuts have been gaining acceptance market-wide, Also, our new 15/16 x 6-1/2-inch Rectangular Head Timber Coach Screw has been approved by several Class 1 railroads. UP recently approved our Hex Head Frog Bolts. As well, our new 5/8-inch and 3/4-inch-diameter "Beaver" Twin Lead Timber Screws with Torx drive washer head are outstanding for crossings and bridgework."

Yangtze: New products

Yangtze Railroad Materials is offering several new products, including solid manganese self-guarded frogs, which come in many sizes; joint bars; and all types of castings.

"We recently acquired some new testing equipment, including two fatigue testing machines for 'e'-clips and other elastic fasteners, a universal testing machine for all of our bolts and a hardness-testing machine," said Ling Young, vice president. "We constantly strive to improve ways of maintaining quality control. With this new testing equipment, we will be able to perform in-house inspections and tests. Additionally, our customers will have immediate access to the results."

The company recently began supplying joint bars to UP.

Rail anchors

"The North American rail anchor market remains stable, with demand being at the 2002 level," said Kostas Papazoglou, president, Portec Rail in Canada. "Our Class 1 and shortline customers continue their track-renewal programs at about the same rate as in 2002. Typically our Portec-Fair[R] Rail Anchor has remained the preferred style design in the northern climates due to features such as full-rail-base contact and large tie-bearing area. However, we are seeing resurgence in interest on the U.S. side, where, of course, the Portec-Fair[R] rail anchor is no stranger. Up until the late 1970s, this rail anchor was produced at a Portec Rail Products plant in Memphis, Tenn.

"We recently obtained the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System certification that encompasses the complete product line at our facility in St. Jean, Quebec," he noted.

"The Class 1 ordering level to this point has been ahead of our forecast, but the regional, shortline and contractor segments of our business have been considerably below forecast," said Richard Carlson, president, UNIT Rail Anchor Co., Inc. "The regional and shortline segments more-closely track what has been a rather weak business environment.