Transactions of the American Society of Civil Engineers, Vol. LXX, Dec. 1910

This volume presents a detailed account of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ special committee on steel rail sections, assembled in the early 1900s. It chronicles the committee’s extensive meetings, collaborations with other engineering societies, and the systematic testing funded by the American Railway Association. Readers will follow the development of practical rail specifications, including the challenges of balancing carbon and phosphorus content to achieve durable, reliable tracks.

The report also offers the committee’s proposed specifications for open‑hearth steel rails, highlighting the need for a sliding scale of alloy percentages and the compromises that have long shaped railroad procurement. By documenting the technical debates and recommendations of the era, the work provides valuable insight into the engineering standards that underpinned America’s expanding rail network.