for a rail 33 feet in length and of 100 lbs. section, of six and three-fourths inches and one-eighth inch less for each ten lbs. decrease in section. Cooling. 26. The bars shall not be held for the purpose of reducing their temperature, nor shall any artificial means of cooling them be used after they leave the finishing pass. Rails, while on the cooling beds, shall be protected from snow and water. Section. 27. The section of rails shall conform as accurately as possible to the template furnished by the Railroad Company. A variation in height of one-sixty-fourth inch less or one-thirty-second inch greater than the specified height, and one-sixteenth inch in width of flange, will be permitted; but no variation shall be allowed in the dimensions affecting the fit of the splice bars. Weight. 28. The weight of the rails specified in the order shall be maintained as nearly as possible, after complying with the preceding Section. A variation of one-half of 1 per cent. from the calculated weight of section, as applied to an entire order, will be allowed. Payment. 29. Rails accepted will be paid for according to actual weights. Straightening. 30. (a) The hot straightening shall be carefully done, so that gagging under the cold presses will be reduced to a minimum. Any rail coming to the straightening presses showing sharp kinks or greater camber than that indicated by a middle ordinate of 4 inches in 33 feet, for A. R. A. type of sections, or 5 inches for A. S. C. E. type of sections, will be at once classed as a No. 2 rail. The distance between the supports of rails in the straightening presses shall not be less than 42 inches. The supports shall have flat surfaces and be out of wind. (b) Rails heard to snap or check while being straightened shall be at once rejected. Drilling. 31. Circular holes for joint bolts shall be drilled to conform accurately in every respect to the drawing and dimensions furnished by the Railroad Company. Finishing. 32. (a) All rails shall be smooth on the heads, straight in line and surface, and without any twists, waves or kinks. They shall be sawed square at the ends, a variation of not more than one-thirty-second inch being allowed; and burrs shall be carefully removed. (b) Rails improperly drilled or straightened, or from which the burrs have not been removed, shall be rejected, but may be accepted after being properly finished. (c) When any finished rail shows interior defects at either end or in a drilled hole the entire rail shall be rejected. Branding. 33. (a) The name of the manufacturer, the weight and type of 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. The top rails shall be lettered "A," and the succeeding ones "B," "C," "D," etc., consecutively; but in case of a top discard of twenty or more per cent., the letter "A" will be omitted. All markings of rails shall be done so effectively that the marks may be read as long as the rails are in service. (b) Open-Hearth rails shall be branded or stamped "O.-H.," in addition to the other marks. Separate Classes, 34. All classes of rails shall be kept separate from each other. Loading. 35. All rails shall be loaded in the presence of the inspector. |