Vertical cable barrier having rails with internal cable fitting engagement features

A rail panel, comprising:

• a first rail comprising a first pair of side walls, a first perimeter wall disposed orthogonally to the first pair of side walls, and a pair of internal walls extending from the first perimeter wall and disposed parallel to and spaced apart from the first pair of side walls, the first perimeter wall defining a plurality of first cable holes spaced apart along the length of the first perimeter wall;
• a second rail comprising a second pair of side walls, and a second perimeter wall disposed orthogonally to the second pair of side walls, the second perimeter wall defining a plurality of second cable holes disposed spaced apart along the length of the second perimeter wall;
• a plurality of vertical cables extending from the first rail to the second rail, a first end of each of the plurality of vertical cables extending through a respective first cable hole, and a second end of each of the plurality of vertical cables extending through a respective second cable hole;
• and
• a rigid support member extending from the first rail to the second rail and disposed among the plurality of vertical cables.

A method of forming a rail panel, comprising:

• extruding a first rail, the first rail comprising a first pair of side walls, a first perimeter wall disposed orthogonally to the first pair of side walls, and a pair of internal walls extending from the first perimeter wall and disposed parallel to and spaced apart from the first pair of side walls;
• forming a plurality of first cable holes spaced apart along the length of the first perimeter wall;
• extruding a second rail, the second rail comprising a second pair of side walls, and a second perimeter wall disposed orthogonally to the second pair of side walls;
• forming a plurality of second cable holes disposed spaced apart along the length of the second perimeter wall;
• assembling a rigid support member to the first and second rails;
• and
• assembling a plurality of vertical cables to the first and second rails, comprising applying a plurality of clips to a plurality of clip receiving swage fittings and tightening a plurality of threaded fasteners to tension the plurality of vertical cables.