Used Rails R50/R65

What Are Used Rails R50/R65?

Used Rails R50 and R65 are categories of scrap railway steel that follow international ISRI and GOST standards. They come from decommissioned railway tracks and are widely traded for melting, re‑rolling, and steel production.

They are valued because they are made from high‑quality, high‑carbon steel, originally designed to withstand heavy loads and long-term stress.

1. Standards & Classification

R50

• Weight: 51.67 kg/m
• Standard: GOST 7173‑75
• ISRI classification: R50
• Typically older, lighter rail sections.

R65

• Weight: 64.72 kg/m
• Standard: GOST 8165‑75
• ISRI classification: R65
• Heavier, newer rail sections with higher load capacity.

2. Chemical Composition (Typical Range)

Both R50 and R65 share similar chemical specs:

Element	Range
Carbon (C)	0.54–0.82%
Silicon (Si)	0.18–0.40%
Manganese (Mn)	0.60–1.05%
Sulfur (S)	≤ 0.04%
Phosphorus (P)	≤ 0.035%
Arsenic (As)	≤ 0.01%

These specs make the rails suitable for re‑rolling into bars, shapes, and other steel products.

3. Physical & Quality Requirements

Used rails must be:

• Free from:
  • Bent or twisted rails
  • Frog, switch, and guard rails
  • Split heads or broken flanges
  • Excessive rust, mud, dust, fluff
  • Non‑ferrous inclusions
  • Oil, grease, coatings
  • War materials, explosives, ammunition
  • Radioactive or hazardous contamination
• Cut lengths often supplied as:
  • 1–1.5 m pieces (common export format)
  • Or 6 m and longer (depending on buyer requirement)

4. Typical Uses

Industrial Uses

• Melting in steel mills
• Re‑rolling into:
  • Rebars
  • Angles
  • Channels
  • Structural steel

Why They Are Popular

• High‑quality steel
• Consistent chemical composition
• Large global supply from railway upgrades

5. Summary Table

Feature	R50	R65
Weight	51.67 kg/m	64.72 kg/m
Standard	GOST 7173‑75	GOST 8165‑75
ISRI Code	R50	R65
Use	Re‑rolling, melting	Re‑rolling, melting
Steel Quality	High	Very high