A rugged steel fastener used by track gangs to secure rails and steel tie plates to wooden crossties. The spike features a wedge-shaped point to cut through wood fibers without splitting the tie, and an asymmetrical head that hooks over the base of the rail to hold gauge.
Heard on the job
The section gang dropped a keg of railroad spikes by the crossing.
Also heard as
- cut spike
- dog spike
- Dog
Do not mix it up with
- Rail spike: Both terms refer to the exact same track fastener, though railroad spike is the more common civilian name.