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SOME HINTS ON SPIKING TRACK.


The usual dimensions of track spikes are 51/2 X 9.16 inches square,
their weight about half a pound each. Their common defects are
brittleness and imperfect points. In spiking track, the most important
points to be attended to are the proper spacing of the ties and
driving the spikes in such a manner that the ties shall be held in
place at right angles to the track and the rails in true gauge; to
insure the latter, the track gauge should always be used when spiking
the gauge side, the rail being held to proper position by a lining
bar. The gauge should be kept about 6 or 8 in. ahead of the tie being
spiked and should not be lifted until the spikes are driven home;
gauges should be tested regularly and every morning when they are to
be used all day, so as to insure a true gauge all the time. The two
inner spikes should be set on one side of the tie and the two outer
spikes on the other, as indicated in the accompanying sketch. This
prevents the tie from slewing around, and thus deranging the gauge of
the track, as well as interfering with the proper spacing of the ties.
The joints and centers should be spiked first, which will bring the
rails to their proper position on the ties, which in turn will assist
intermediate spiking. Each tie should be carefully gauged as spiked
and, as before indicated, the ties with the broadest faces being
selected for the joints.