The difference between dog spike and screw spike

Railroad spike plays an important role in ensuring the stability of railroad. It is a large rail nail used for fastening railway sleepers or rail ties in the rail track. The obvious features of track spike are the offset head, flat edge point and chisel, which makes the spike resist to loosening. Rail spike is the main component in rail fasteners and it can also be made into railroad spike knife.

According to its features, we can classify it into two types, screw spike and dog spike. It has many different functions and can strength types of products. In order to satisfy requirements of environment, technology and freezing, there are still various special spikes like square head spike, hexagon head spike, dog spike.

The difference between dog spike and screw spike

Although both Dog Spikes and Screw Spikes belong to railway spikes, they differ significantly in structure, fastening principle, and application scenarios:

Structural Differences:

Dog Spike: The shank is usually square or flat, with a slightly cap-shaped "dog head" at the top, and it has no threads.

Screw Spike: The shank is threaded like a screw and is fastened by being rotated into a wooden sleeper or sleeve.

Fastening Principle:

Dog Spike: Relies mainly on the friction between the spike shank and the wooden sleeper, plus the pressure of the spike head on the tie plate, to hold the rail in place.

Screw Spike: Uses the thread to tightly engage with the wood, generating a mechanical locking force, with stronger pull-out resistance and vibration resistance.

Application Scenarios:

Dog Spike: Suitable for light-load, low-speed lines and wooden sleeper tracks; it is easy to install and cost-effective.

Screw Spike: Suitable for medium-to-heavy-load railways, frequently used branch lines, or industrial tracks, where higher stability and durability are required.

In short, dog spikes are traditional hammered-in spikes, while screw spikes are threaded, screwed-in spikes. Their fastening principles and performance differ, and they are not interchangeable in railway construction.

GNEE RAIL specialized in manufacturing and supplying railway products, including railway fishplates, railway fastening system, and related fastening parts for railroad construction. If you need any railroad products, please contact with us.