Process and device for hardening a rail

A process for hardening a rail or part thereof by force-cooling it from a temperature above an Ac3-point with transformation of an austenitic structure into a different microstructure that is stable at room temperature, the process comprising

• immediately after the last finish rolling pass, aligning, horizontally positioning, and fixing in axial alignment to secure against bending, the rail in its austenitic state at a first temperature above an Ac3-point;
• and
• while keeping the rail fixed in axial alignment and secured against bending, force-cooling the rail or part thereof approximately over the entire length thereof to a second temperature which is lower than said first temperature, and allowing the austenitic structure to be transformed into said different microstructure;
• the rail having a length of at least about 90 m and being fixed in axial alignment at its foot by means of fixing elements arranged in longitudinal direction of the rail at a distance to each other of not more than about 0.5 m.

A device for hardening a rail or part thereof by force-cooling, the device comprising

• a support for supporting a rail having a length of at least about 50 m;
• a cooling device for force-cooling the rail or part thereof;
• and
• fixing devices for axially aligning and securing the rail against bending during the force-cooling, the fixing devices being arranged in longitudinal direction of the support structure at a distance of not more than about 1 m from each other.