Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. LXX, Dec. 1910 | Page 4

with the preceding paragraph, to that specified in the
contract.
"A variation of one-half of one per cent. from the calculated weight of
section, as applied to an entire order, will be allowed.
"Rails will be accepted and paid for according to actual weight.
[Sidenote: Length]
"8. The standard length of rail shall be 33 ft.
"Ten per cent. of the entire order will be accepted in shorter lengths
varying by 1 ft. from 32 ft. to 25 ft.
"A variation of 1/4 in. from the specified lengths will be allowed.
"All No. 1 rails less than 33 ft. shall be painted green on both ends.
[Sidenote: Finishing]
"9. Care shall be taken in hot-straightening rails, and it shall result in
their being left in such condition that they will not vary throughout
their entire length more than four (4) in. from a straight line in any
direction for thick base sections, and 5 in. for A. S. C. E. sections when
delivered to the cold-straightening presses. Those which vary beyond

that amount, or have short kinks, shall be classed as second quality rails
and be so marked.
"The distance between supports of rails in the straightening press shall
not be less than forty-two (42) in.; supports to have flat surfaces and
out of wind. Rails shall be straight in line and surface and smooth on
head when finished, final straightening being done while cold.
"They shall be sawed square at ends, variations to be not more than
1-32 in., and prior to shipment shall have the burr caused by the saw
cutting removed and the ends made clean.
[Sidenote: Drilling]
"10. Circular holes for joint bolts shall be drilled in accordance with
specifications of the purchaser. They shall in every respect conform
accurately to drawing and dimensions furnished and shall be free from
burrs.
[Sidenote: Branding]
"11. The name of the manufacturer, the weight of the rail, and the
month and year of manufacture shall be rolled in raised letters and
figures on the side of the web. The number of the heat and a letter
indicating the portion of the ingot from which the rail was made shall
be plainly stamped on the web of each rail, where it will not be covered
by the splice bars. Rails to be lettered consecutively A, B, C, etc., the
rail from the top of the ingot being A. In case of a top discard of twenty
or more per cent. the letter A will be omitted. Open-Hearth rails to be
branded or stamped O. H. All marking of rails shall be done so
effectively that the marks may be read as long as the rails are in service.
[Sidenote: Drop testing.]
"12. (a) Drop tests shall be made on pieces of rail rolled from the top of
the ingot, not less than four (4) ft. and not more than six (6) ft. long,
from each heat of steel. These test pieces shall be cut from the rail bar
next to either end of the top rail, as selected by the Inspector.

"The temperature of the test pieces shall be between forty (40) and one
hundred (100) degrees Fahrenheit.
"The test pieces shall be placed head upward on solid supports, five (5)
in. top radius, three (3) ft. between centers, and subjected to impact
tests, the tup falling free from the following heights:
70 lb. rail 16 ft. 80, 85 and 90 lb. rail 18 ft. 100 lb. rail 20 ft.
"The test pieces which do not break under the first drop shall be nicked
and tested to destruction.
"(b) (It is proposed to prescribe, under this paragraph, the requirements
in regard to deflection, fixing maximum and minimum limits, as soon
as proper deflection limits have been decided upon.)
[Sidenote: Tests.]
"13. (A) Two pieces shall be tested from each heat of steel. If either of
these test pieces breaks, a third piece shall be tested. If two of the test
pieces break without showing physical defect, all rails of the heat will
be rejected absolutely. If two of the test pieces do not break, all rails of
the heat will be accepted as No. 1 or No. 2 classification (according as
the deflection is less or more, respectively, than the prescribed
limit[A]).
"(B) If, however, any test piece broken under test A shows physical
defect, the top rail from each ingot of that heat shall be rejected.
"(C) Additional tests shall then be made of test pieces selected by the
Inspector from the top end of any second rails of the same heat. If two
out of three of these second test pieces break, the remainder of the rails
of the heat will also be rejected. If two out of three of these second test
pieces do not break, the remainder of