Crane Rails

American Profiles

Crane Rails are an important subset of the rail industry. Their shapes can be quite different from those of Transport rails and are the result of a long evolution to give the rails specific performance characteristics.

Transverse loads (across the rails) are particularly high in crane applications and have led to rails with wide bases and relatively thick webs. Several profiles have flat heads as well, to better support large wheel loads.

Because each crane project is different, over time, many heavy crane rail profiles (sections) have been developed. American Heavy Crane Rails are the most common in North America, European DIN Rails are found worldwide, and Speciality Crane Rails appear for specific projects.

Basic Dimensions
Mechanical properties
Chemical composition
Drilling
Description

Basic Dimensions

Profiles	Weight			Head width			Height			Base width	Web
	kg/m	lb/yd	mm	in	mm	in	mm	in	mm	in
CR104 (MRS51)	52.04	104.90	63.50	2 1/2	127.00	5	127.00	5	25.40	1
CR105 (MRS52)	52.09	105.00	65.09	2 9/16	131.76	5 3/16	131.76	5 3/16	23.81	15/16
CR135 (MRS67)	67.39	135.86	87.31	3 7/16	146.05	5 3/4	131.76	5 3/16	31.75	1 1/4
CR171 (MRS85)	85.02	171.40	109.22	4.30	152.40	6	152.40	6	31.75	1 1/4
CR175 (MRS87B, TR87)	86.80	175.00	107.95	4 1/4	152.40	6	152.40	6	38.10	1 1/2

Mechanical properties

Grades	Hardness HB	Tensile Strength (for info. only) MPa
Standard	≥ 260	≥ 880
High Strength *	321 - 388	≥ 1080
R340 **	≥ 340	≥ 1150
Advanced Head Hardened (AHH) **	≥ 360	≥ 1220

* High Strength Rails (head-hardened or alloy rails) are produced in accordance with manufacturer’s standard practice, as per ASTM A759 Supplementary Requirement S1.
** R340 and AHH grades are not overseen by ASTMA759 standard — they are manufacturer proprietary grades.

Chemical composition

Drilling

Rail profile	Spacing										Hole diameter	Elevation
	A		B		C		D		E
	mm	in	mm	in	mm	in	mm	in	mm	in
CR104 (MRS51)	101.60	4	127.00	5	152.40	6	26.99	1 1/16	61.91	2 7/16
CR105 (MRS52)	101.60	4	127.00	5	152.40	6	23.81	15/16	55.96	2 13/64
CR135 (MRS67)	101.60	4	127.00	5	152.40	6	30.16	1 3/16	62.71	2 15/32
CR171 (MRS85)	101.60	4	127.00	5	152.40	6	30.16	1 3/16	66.68	2 5/8
CR175 (MRS87B TR87)	101.60	4	127.00	5	152.40	6	30.16	1 3/16	67.47	2 21/32

Description

American Crane Rails rails have a long-established tradition among engineers in the Americas and are widely used for industrial crane applications. CR rails range in size from 104 lbs/yard (52.04 kg/m) to 175 lbs/yard (86.80 kg/m), and follow the ASTM A759 specification. An interesting characteristic of the CR rails is that their base widths and overall heights are almost the same.

American Crane Rails profiles are produced in standard lengths of 33, 39, 40, 60, 78 and 80 feet (≈ 10, 12, 18 and 24 meters). Other lengths are also available upon special request. The ends can be finished as needed, either non-drilled (blank) for welding or drilled with 3 holes for joint bars. Square-finished ends are standard with Mitre cut also available.

All Crane rails are produced and tested to stringent metallurgical quality standards. They are offered in multiple grades which improve the rail’s load-bearing capabilities while reducing in-service wear rates. The grading of Crane Rails depends on their origins: in North America, Brinell Hardness is used for grading purposes, whereas the European standards focus on Tensile Strength. There is an approximate correlation between the two systems.

Crane Rails

Basic Dimensions

Mechanical properties

Chemical composition

Drilling

Description

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