Re: 115 too light? Not even
Author: mook
Date: 03-12-2014 - 11:19
In some thread a while back, somebody mentioned (IIRC) that only 136# or something in that vicinity is made in US. If that's true, how is SMART getting away with using Federal $$ (almost certainly) and 115# rail (which presumably is imported)? Buy America requirements...
The rail weight SMART is using likely has little to do with freight needs (as long as it meets the minimums - probably in the 90-100# range as Dick notes). It's what they need to handle potentially (if not initially) frequent passenger service at reasonable speeds. Even light rail lines these days seem to use big rail in open track.