The rail having a chemical composition containing C: 0.70-1.00 mass %, Si: 0.50-1.60 mass %, Mn: 0.20-1.00 mass %, P: ≤0.035 mass %, S: ≤0.012 mass %, Cr: 0.40-1.30 mass %, where Ceq defined by the formula (1) is 1.04-1.25,
Ceq=[% C]+([% Si]/11)+([% Mn]/7)+([% Cr]/5.8)  (1) where [% M] is the content in mass % of the element M, the balance being Fe and inevitable impurities, where Ceq(max) is ≤1.40, where the Ceq(max) is determined by the formula (2) using maximum contents of C, Si, Mn, and Cr obtained by subjecting a region between specified positions to EPMA line analysis; and a pearlite area ratio in the region is 95% or more,
Ceq(max)=[% C(max)]+([% Si(max)]/11)+([% Mn(max)]/7)+([% Cr(max)]/5.8)  (2) where [% M(max)] is the maximum content of the element M.

The present invention relates to a rail which has a predetermined chemical composition and satisfies expressions of 1.00<Mn/Cr≦4.00 and 0.30≦0.25×Mn+Cr≦1.00 and in which a structure to a depth of 25 mm from an outer surface of a head portion as the origin includes 95% or greater of a pearlite structure, the hardness of the structure is in a range of Hv 350 to 480, 50 to 500 V carbonitride having an average grain size of 5 to 20 nm are present per 1.0 μm.sup.2 of an area to be inspected in a transverse cross section at a position having a depth of 25 mm from the outer surface of the head portion, and the value obtained by subtracting the hardness of the position having the depth of 25 mm from the outer surface of the head portion from the hardness of the position having a depth of 2 mm from the outer surface of the head portion is in a range of Hv 0 to Hv 40.

The present invention relates to a rail which has a predetermined chemical composition and satisfies expressions of 1.00<Mn/Cr≦4.00 and 0.30≦0.25×Mn+Cr≦1.00 and in which a structure to a depth of 25 mm from an outer surface of a head portion as the origin includes 95% or greater of a pearlite structure, the hardness of the structure is in a range of Hv 350 to 480, 50 to 500 V carbonitride having an average grain size of 5 to 20 nm are present per 1.0 μm.sup.2 of an area to be inspected in a transverse cross section at a position having a depth of 25 mm from the outer surface of the head portion, and the value obtained by subtracting the hardness of the position having the depth of 25 mm from the outer surface of the head portion from the hardness of the position having a depth of 2 mm from the outer surface of the head portion is in a range of Hv 0 to Hv 40.

The present invention relates to a rail which has a predetermined chemical composition and in which at least 90% of a metallographic structure from an outer surface of the rail bottom portion, as the origin, to a depth of 5 mm is a pearlite structure, a surface hardness HC of a foot-bottom central portion is in a range of Hv 360 to 500, a surface hardness HE of a foot-edge portion is in a range of Hv 260 to 315, and HC, HE, and a surface hardness HM of a middle portion positioned between the foot-bottom central portion and the foot-edge portion satisfy HC≧HM≧HE.

The present invention relates to a rail which has a predetermined chemical composition and in which at least 90% of a metallographic structure from an outer surface of the rail bottom portion, as the origin, to a depth of 5 mm is a pearlite structure, a surface hardness HC of a foot-bottom central portion is in a range of Hv 360 to 500, a surface hardness HE of a foot-edge portion is in a range of Hv 260 to 315, and HC, HE, and a surface hardness HM of a middle portion positioned between the foot-bottom central portion and the foot-edge portion satisfy HC≧HM≧HE.

An inline thermal treatment system for thermally treating a continuous product includes a housing comprising a first opening and second opening respectively configured to allow the continuous product to enter and to exit the housing. The system includes at least one laser coupled to a laser power source and configured to output at least one laser beam that impinges upon and heats the portion of the continuous product.

Steel railroad rails including carbon, manganese, silicon and greater than 0.45 wt % to 1 wt % copper are provided having greater hardness and yield strength than standard steel rails containing less than 0.45 wt % copper. As an example, the ultimate tensile strength of the steel rails is from 1170 MPa to 1725 MPa. As an additional example, the hardness of the steel rails measured 2 mm from the running surface of the rail is from 35 to 50 on the Rockwell C scale.

Steel railroad rails including carbon, manganese, silicon and greater than 0.45 wt % to 1 wt % copper are provided having greater hardness and yield strength than standard steel rails containing less than 0.45 wt % copper. As an example, the ultimate tensile strength of the steel rails is from 1170 MPa to 1725 MPa. As an additional example, the hardness of the steel rails measured 2 mm from the running surface of the rail is from 35 to 50 on the Rockwell C scale.

A system thermally treats rails. The system has a cooling device for spraying a cooling medium onto a rail to be treated. The cooling device defines a cooling path for receiving the rail to be treated. A conveyor moves the rail to be thermally treated through the cooling path. A vertically displacing device for displacing at least one of the cooling devices for adjusting a position of the one cooling device relative to the rail to be treated.

A system thermally treats rails. The system has a cooling device for spraying a cooling medium onto a rail to be treated. The cooling device defines a cooling path for receiving the rail to be treated. A conveyor moves the rail to be thermally treated through the cooling path. A vertically displacing device for displacing at least one of the cooling devices for adjusting a position of the one cooling device relative to the rail to be treated.