Iron Railway Track 90 Lbs Rail
| Rail section | 90 lbs (90 R / 90 ARA-A) |
| Nominal weight | 90 lb/yd = 44.65 kg/m |
| Height | 142.88 mm (5 5/8 in) |
| Base width | 130.18 mm (5 1/8 in) |
| Head width | 65.09 mm (2 9/16 in) |
| Web thickness | 14.29 mm (9/16 in) |
| Supply length | 12 to 25 m, or cut to size |
| Rail type | Flat-bottom heavy rail |
Standards & references
- Profile per ARA-A section 9020 (American Railway Association)
- Also an AREA recommended section
- Rail steel grade 900A / 880 MPa class (UIC 860, EN 13674-1)
- Section area 8.82 sq in, moment of inertia 38.7 in⁴
- Section modulus head 12.6 in³, base 15.2 in³
Vaibhav Laxmi Industries (VLI) supplies iron railway track 90 lbs rail, the 44.65 kg per metre flat-bottom rail section used for railway sidings, crane and gantry runways, trolley tracks, mining and yard lines and rail poles. The 90 lbs rail (also written 90 R, 90 pound or 90 ARA-A) is supplied in standard 12 to 25 m lengths or cut to your drawing, with fish-bolt holes drilled on request, and delivered from our Jaipur works to project sites across India.
What is 90 lbs rail?
The 90 lbs rail is a rail section defined by the American Railway Association (ARA), which standardised sections in 10 lb/yd steps from 60 lb/yd (29.8 kg/m) to 100 lb/yd (49.6 kg/m). The 90 lb/yd section, 44.65 kg per metre, is also a profile recommended by the American Railway Engineering Association (AREA), and it is one of the most common intermediate rail sizes in India for non-mainline track. It sits between the light 60 R section (29.8 kg/m) and the Indian Railways mainline sections of 52 kg/m and 60 kg/m, which makes it the usual choice where the track carries heavy wheel loads at low speed: crane gantries, loco sidings, wagon tipplers, port and steel plant yards.
Rail sections we supply
90 lbs rail, ARA-A profile (90 R)
The standard 90 ARA-A section, number 9020, with a 142.88 mm height, 130.18 mm base and 65.09 mm head. This is the section most buyers in India mean by “90 R rail” and is the profile we hold as stock. It is used for railway sidings, crane runways rated for medium capacities and as a heavy rail pole section for boundary and crash-barrier posts.
Other rail sections on request
VLI can also source 30 R, 36 R, 50 R and 60 R light rails for trolley lines and rail poles, 105 lbs (52 kg) and 120 lbs (60 kg) rails matching Indian Railways mainline sections, and CR 80, CR 100 and CR 120 crane rails for heavy overhead cranes. Tell us the section number and the length and we quote from the same supply chain.
Technical specification of 90 lbs rail
| Parameter | Metric | Imperial |
|---|---|---|
| Section designation | 90 ARA-A, section number 9020 (also marked 90 RA or 90 RS) | |
| Nominal weight | 44.65 kg/m | 90 lb/yd |
| Rail height | 142.88 mm | 5 5/8 in |
| Base (foot) width | 130.18 mm | 5 1/8 in |
| Head width | 65.09 mm | 2 9/16 in |
| Web thickness | 14.29 mm | 9/16 in |
| Cross-sectional area | 56.9 sq cm | 8.82 sq in |
| Moment of inertia | 1,611 cm⁴ | 38.7 in⁴ |
| Section modulus | Head 206 cm³, base 249 cm³ | Head 12.6 in³, base 15.2 in³ |
| Standard length | 11.9 m (39 ft), 12 m; supplied 12 to 25 m | 30, 33, 39 and 40 ft stock lengths |
| Material | Carbon-manganese rail steel, grade 900A (880 MPa minimum tensile) or 1100 grade on request | |
| Surface | Plain mill finish; anti-rust coating or cut and drilled ends on request | |
| Gauge suitability | Broad gauge and metre gauge sidings, ballasted or ballastless crane runways | |
How 90 lbs rail compares with other sections
| Section | Weight | Typical use |
|---|---|---|
| 30 R / 36 R | 14.9 / 17.9 kg/m | Light trolley lines, mine tubs, rail poles for fencing |
| 50 R / 60 R | 24.8 / 29.8 kg/m | Light sidings, small gantry cranes, rail poles |
| 90 R (90 lbs) | 44.65 kg/m | Railway sidings, medium crane and gantry runways, wagon tipplers, heavy rail poles |
| 105 lbs (52 kg) | 52.1 kg/m | Indian Railways mainline and heavy sidings |
| 120 lbs (60 kg) | 59.5 kg/m | Indian Railways high-axle-load mainline |
| CR 80 / CR 100 / CR 120 | 63.7 / 88.9 / 118 kg/m | Heavy-duty overhead crane runways |
Applications
- Railway sidings, loop lines and private freight terminals connected to Indian Railways yards
- Runway rails for EOT cranes, gantry cranes and goliath cranes in steel plants, ports and fabrication yards
- Trolley and transfer-car tracks inside factories, warehouses and cement and power plants
- Wagon tippler, locomotive shed and workshop pit lines
- Rail poles for boundary fencing, crash barriers and heavy-duty posts where a rolled steel section is preferred over pipe
- Mining and quarry haulage tracks
Material, quality and inspection
90 lbs rails are rolled from carbon-manganese rail steel in the 880 MPa tensile class, the grade referred to as 900A under UIC 860 and equivalent to grade R260 under EN 13674-1. Each supply comes with the mill test certificate showing chemical composition, tensile strength and hardness, plus a dimensional check of height, base width and head width against the section drawing. For crane runways VLI can supply rails cut to the span drawing with fish-bolt holes drilled at the ends, and for rail poles we cut to length and drill or weld base plates in our Jaipur fabrication shop, with hot-dip galvanizing available from our own galvanizing facility.
Fastenings and accessories
A 90 lbs rail track needs matching fish plates and fish bolts for the joints, base plates or sole plates under the rail, and dog spikes, rail clips or crane rail clamps depending on whether the rail sits on sleepers or on a steel or concrete runway beam. VLI supplies the joint plates and fasteners along with the rail so the track package arrives together, and our fabrication shop can prepare the runway beam brackets and the fencing hardware for rail-pole installations.
How to order
Send the rail section (90 R, or the alternative section from the table above), the total length in metres or the tonnage, the required piece lengths, and whether you need end drilling, cutting, galvanizing or fastenings. VLI quotes per metre or per tonne with delivery from Jaipur to any site in India, and can supply from a few pieces for rail poles up to full truckloads for sidings and crane runways.
Call +91 9660340624 or email sales@vaibhavlaxmiindustries.com for a quotation.
Frequently asked questions
What does 90 lbs rail mean?
It means the rail weighs 90 pounds per yard, which is 44.65 kg per metre. The figure is the nominal mass of the ARA-A section defined by the American Railway Association, and Indian buyers usually write it as 90 R or 90 pound rail.
What are the dimensions of a 90 lbs rail?
The 90 ARA-A section is 142.88 mm high with a 130.18 mm base, a 65.09 mm head and a 14.29 mm web. In inches that is 5 5/8 high, 5 1/8 base, 2 9/16 head and 9/16 web.
Where is 90 lbs rail used in India?
Mostly for railway sidings, crane and gantry runways in plants and ports, trolley tracks, wagon tippler lines and as rail poles for fencing and barriers. Indian Railways mainline track uses the heavier 52 kg and 60 kg sections.
How long are the rails supplied?
Standard rolled lengths are 12 m (39 ft) and up to 25 m. VLI cuts to any shorter length and drills fish-bolt holes at the ends on request.
Is 90 lbs rail suitable for an EOT crane runway?
Yes for light and medium crane capacities. For heavy cranes the runway designer will normally specify a CR 80, CR 100 or CR 120 crane rail section, which VLI can also supply.
Can VLI supply the fish plates, bolts and clips with the rail?
Yes. Fish plates, fish bolts, base plates, dog spikes and crane rail clamps are supplied with the rail so the complete track package is delivered together.