Denny Graham,
I'm confused on this rail metallurgy thing. The track (sectional) in my neck-o-the woods is plain old medium carbon steel...easy to cut with a torch, grind, drill and machine with a funky old Bridgeport and HSS tooling. They must have sophisticated rail on the east coast. I tried to find the analysis of the rail, but alas, no soap.
Maybe old, well worn rail that has been replaced is so work hardened by the wheels and flanges that it has a layer of kryptonite on it.
Stuart
