Bridge spike image

Don't know if this is what you're looking for, but we call these boat spikes. Square bodied, round heads.

The bridge spike I remember has a 3/8in to 7/16in square shaft and a 3/4in rounded square head tapered to a 3/8in rounded square and is approximately 10in long, much like the one in Cook's picture, except they were galvanized.

The items I've recovered that were noted on a map as "bridge spike" were just big wire nails, about 3/8" in diameter and 8" to 10" long.

Jim Frame, post: 341456, member: 10 wrote: The items I've recovered that were noted on a map as "bridge spike" were just big wire nails, about 3/8" in diameter and 8" to 10" long.

These were also 12" long. Used to buy them by the box labeled "Bridge Spikes", 5/16" or 3/8" diameter x 12" long. Essentially a big round flathead spike. Used a lot of them for grade stakes for curb/gutter and sewer line grade stakes in hard soil where it was impossible to set a wood stake when I worked for the City of Sheridan Engineering Dept. when I first started my surveying career many moons ago. We set the top of the spike at an even foot or half-foot cut or fill if need be. Cut about a 6" piece of lath, marked the cut/fill data on it with keel and attached it to the spike with a big rubber band.

Dane Mince, post: 341442, member: 296 wrote: I am looking for an image of an iron bridge spike. What does the shaft look like are they round or square.

thanks for your help

Modern bridge spikes are made out of steel and are simply large timber spikes...say 60D and up.

An old iron bridge spike could be something different.

Went to Home Depot a couple weeks ago. They have 12" timber spikes that work well. They sold them at 0.70å¢ apiece.

imaudigger, post: 341509, member: 7286 wrote: Modern bridge spikes are made out of steel...An old iron bridge spike could be something different.

Since steel is typically 97%+ iron (stainless being an exception), the distinction between iron and steel is pretty meaningless for common hardware items.

An 1800's bridge spike would probably be square and made out of wrought iron. It may be twisted.

A newer bridge spike would be round and made out of steel.

http://prr.railfan.net/standards/standards.cgi?plan=79300-C&apos ;">PRR Bridge Detail

The Bridge Spikes that I am familiar with appear to have a washer on them and the head is shaped more like a bolt. A boat spike is more nail like but its head is dome like not flat. The above link may take you to a detail sheet for a PRR timber trestle and in the middle of it is a "drive spike" which may be what you want. You could stop at your local RR MOW department and ask them this question and they may hand you a few.

I am picture insert challenged otherwise I would make this more convenient but then you would miss out on all the cool drawings found at this web page:

http://prr.railfan.net/standards/standards.cgi&apos ;">PRR Standards or PRR Standard Plans (see page 79300-C)

Gad-zooks, I hope that worked.

Dan

That is some awesome information, thanks for posting......:good:

I suppose that I should take a photo of one of the bridge spikes that I have a box of in my truck. I've used them for more than twenty years as traverse points, driven though 2 in. aluminum washers stamped with their point i.d. nos. for the purposes of identification.

As others have said, a modern bridge spike is just a nail with a 3/8 in. shank and a flat, circular head like a common nail. This photo is of the head of one with a 2 in. diameter washer for scale:

Railroad spike?

Thanks below is an image of what I found, It hink it is something other than what is normally thought of as a bridge spike. thanks for the help

Some objects need to be removed and cleaned to truly identify.
I remember being drilled in a hostile manner in court on the witness stand about my identifying a monument as an iron bar.
The iron was approximately 2 1/2 in and battered on the top by many reasons from driving it there to being hit with mowers and probably being run over.
Did not really like that experience and ever since when I can't actually say what it is, I get a shot on the object and will dig it up, clean it with wire brush or as needed and take a picture from a few angles and let the court or whoever questions its identity to see it for themselves.