Historical study on designing Japanese rail profiles

Design works on rail profiles and conformity with wheel profile in Japan are reviewed. The pre-history before the well-known designing Japanese rails in 1960s is revealed. In the design of rails in 1960s the features of numerous rail sections in the world were surveyed and discussed about their tendencies. Determining the profile of rail, the aims for new rail were set clearly. The adoption of new rail profile in Japan was effective on existing lines decreasing the failures of rail of about 10,000 at the ends of 1950s to less than 100 now. Finally, the conformity with wheel profile is discussed.