Abstract: Railway rail metallurgical developments are briefly reviewed
historically to the present day. The development of pearlitic rail
microstructure during rail production is examined, higher strength grades are
described and the work-hardening of such structures examined. Welding of
these rails is briefly described together with their joining to rail switches and
crossings made from austenitic steel. Also described are the changes in rail
microstructure due to cyclic, compressive, rolling-sliding contact which lead
to rolling contact fatigue and wear. New developments in rail microstructures
are examined such as bainitic rail, high-carbon, hyper-eutectoid pearlitic rail
and coated rail.