Rail manufacturing method and manufacturing equipment

A rail manufacturing method comprising:

• a first step of performing forced cooling on at least a head of the rail that is hot after hot-rolled at an austenite region temperature or higher or after heated to the austenite region temperature or higher for 10 seconds from start of the forced cooling so that a cooling rate at a surface of the head becomes 1° C./s to 20° C./s;
• a second step of performing the forced cooling during a period after a lapse of 10 seconds from the start of the forced cooling until heat generation during transformation begins at the surface of the head so that the cooling rate at the surface of the head is changed from the first step and is within a range of 1° C./s to 5° C./s;
• a third step of performing the forced cooling during transformation from beginning to end of the heat generation during transformation so that the cooling rate at the surface of the head is changed from the second step and becomes lower than 1° C./s or a temperature-rising rate becomes 5° C./s or lower;
• and
• a fourth step of performing the forced cooling during a period after the end of the heat generation during transformation until temperature at the surface of the head becomes 450° C. or lower so that the cooling rate at the surface of the head is changed from the third step and is within a range of 1° C./s to 20° C./s.