Handbook of Railroad Construction; For the use of American engineers. / Containing the necessary rules, tables, and formulæ for the location, construction, equipment, and management of railroads, as built in the United States.

by George L. Vose

In a 18 feet rail .0162 ft.

In a 20 feet rail .0176 ft.

and that the track may be kept in the right vertical and horizontal line, rails laid in cold weather must not be placed in contact; but separated by space enough to allow expansion to take place. In hot weather they may be placed close together. Calling 100° the maximum and -30° the minimum, we form the following table for the average lengths of rail, (20 feet).

At	100°	place the rails in contact.
	90°	at a distance of .00136 feet .016 inches.
	80°	at a distance of .00272 feet .032 inches.
	70°	at a distance of .00408 feet .049 inches.
	60°	at a distance of .00544 feet .065 inches.
	50°	at a distance of .00680 feet .082 inches.
	40°	at a distance of .00816 feet .092 inches.
	30°	at a distance of .00952 feet .114 inches.
	20°	at a distance of .01088 feet .131 inches.
	10°	at a distance of .01224 feet .147 inches.
	0°	at a distance of .01360 feet .163 inches.
	-10°	at a distance of .01496 feet .179 inches.
	-20°	at a distance of .01632 feet .196 inches.
	-30°	at a distance of .01768 feet .212 inches.

Fig. 140.

The proper distance of rails may be fixed by the use of the steel plates shown in figs. 140 and 140 A, which are marked with the temperature, according to their thickness, as in the above table.

To incline the rail base may be used, when the rail is not bevelled, wedges one foot long and six inches wide, spiked with the rail to the tie. When the chairs are of cast-iron, they may be cast to the required slope.

Fig. 140 A.