A railroad rail comprising a rail head, wherein the rail head is made from a first material and defines a void, and an insert comprising a second material installed in the void.

A railroad rail comprising a rail head, wherein the rail head is made from a first material and defines a void, and an insert comprising a second material installed in the void.

A gauge plate insulator includes an L-shaped insulating member having a base configured to be positioned between first and second gauge plate members and a leg extending from the base, a metallic backing plate having a first part configured to engage a first gauge plate member, a second part configured to engage the leg of the L-shaped insulating member, and a third part extending between the first part and the second part of the metallic backing plate, a first fastener configured to be received by a first opening and a second fastener configured to be received by a second opening defined by the second part of the metallic backing plate and an opening defined by the leg of the L-shaped insulating member, and an insulation plate configured to be positioned between a portion of the second fastener and the second part of the metallic backing plate.

A gauge plate insulator includes an L-shaped insulating member having a base configured to be positioned between first and second gauge plate members and a leg extending from the base, a metallic backing plate having a first part configured to engage a first gauge plate member, a second part configured to engage the leg of the L-shaped insulating member, and a third part extending between the first part and the second part of the metallic backing plate, a first fastener configured to be received by a first opening and a second fastener configured to be received by a second opening defined by the second part of the metallic backing plate and an opening defined by the leg of the L-shaped insulating member, and an insulation plate configured to be positioned between a portion of the second fastener and the second part of the metallic backing plate.

A gauge plate insulator includes a body having a first side and a second side positioned opposite the second, with the first side of the body defining a planar surface, and the body defining a first opening and a second opening, and a leg extending from the second side of the body and configured to be positioned between first and second gauge plate members. The leg is positioned between the first and second openings of the body, with the body and leg formed integrally from a fiber-reinforced polymer.

A gauge plate insulator includes a body having a first side and a second side positioned opposite the second, with the first side of the body defining a planar surface, and the body defining a first opening and a second opening, and a leg extending from the second side of the body and configured to be positioned between first and second gauge plate members. The leg is positioned between the first and second openings of the body, with the body and leg formed integrally from a fiber-reinforced polymer.

Method for the aluminothermic welding of rails, involving the steps of: triggering an aluminothermic reaction in a crucible, pouring the metal resulting from said reaction into the mold so as to fill the molding cavity from the rail flange, after filling the cavity, triggering a second aluminothermic reaction above the rail head, and pouring the metal resulting from said reaction into the cavity in the region of the rail head. The mold used in the method is designed to fit over the ends of two rails to form a molding cavity comprising a crucible positioned above the rail head region so that it can be fed with molten metal of the cavity via a secondary passage.

Method for the aluminothermic welding of rails, involving the steps of: triggering an aluminothermic reaction in a crucible, pouring the metal resulting from said reaction into the mold so as to fill the molding cavity from the rail flange, after filling the cavity, triggering a second aluminothermic reaction above the rail head, and pouring the metal resulting from said reaction into the cavity in the region of the rail head. The mold used in the method is designed to fit over the ends of two rails to form a molding cavity comprising a crucible positioned above the rail head region so that it can be fed with molten metal of the cavity via a secondary passage.

A railroad rail comprising a rail head, wherein the rail head is made from a first material and defines a void, and an insert comprising a second material installed in the void.

A railroad rail comprising a rail head, wherein the rail head is made from a first material and defines a void, and an insert comprising a second material installed in the void.