Rolling contact fatigue (RCF) is causing crack initiation and crack propagation in rails. Some types of RCF cracks are found to be associated with a white etching layer (WEL). A metallurgical investigation was carried out on a worn rail and the amounts of WEL at different positions on the rail were determined. Two different rail types R260 and R350HT that both had been ground by a grinding train were investigated. The rail sections, studied using optical and scanning electron microscopy, showed that the surface of both types of rails is covered with WELs. The hardness of the WEL is increased compared to the base material and the microstructural investigations reveal that a martensitic structure is present at the surface.
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