Common Railroad Hand Tools and Their Uses

Common Railroad Hand Tools and What They’re Used For

A practical guide to common railroad hand tools, including spike mauls, track punches, tie plug punches and track adzes.

Railroad maintenance uses a specialized set of striking, punching, pulling and cutting tools. A few may look familiar, but their shapes, weights and handle lengths are designed around track work: driving spikes near the rail, working tie plates, maintaining wood ties and moving hardware safely and efficiently.

Here are common railroad hand tools, what each is used for and how their designs differ.

Warwood Tool Grade B bell pattern spike maul

Quick Guide to Common Railroad Hand Tools

Tool	Primary use	What makes it different
Spike maul	Driving railroad spikes	Heavy head and purpose-built striking faces for spike-driving work.
Track punch	Driving, riveting and backing out track hardware	A narrow round punch face with a larger striking face.
Tie plug punch	Installing or removing tie plugs	Square punch face matched to treated-wood tie plugs.
Track adze	Shaping ties and bridge timbers	Longer, narrower adze pattern with a rounded cutting edge.
Clay pick	Breaking and loosening packed material around track work	Pick geometry concentrates force into hard ground or compacted material.
Spike puller	Pulling spikes	Designed to grab and pull spikes rather than strike them.

Railroad tools are purpose-built. Using a general construction hammer, drift or garden tool in their place can be less efficient and can damage the tool or hardware. Choose the pattern that matches the job.

Spike Mauls

A spike maul drives railroad spikes that secure the rail to ties and plates. Its head is shaped for repeated, controlled striking rather than general demolition. The work demands a face that stays square to the spike and a handle that gives the user enough reach and leverage.

A bell-pattern spike maul uses an elongated head that helps a skilled user strike spikes on the opposite side of the rail and work in narrow spaces between rails and crossing planks. Warwood’s 10 lb Grade B Bell Pattern Spike Maul is built to the current AREMA Plan #3 and is available with American hickory, Safety Grip or fiberglass handle options.

Round Track Punches

A round track punch is used for driving, riveting and backing-out jobs in track maintenance. Its working end concentrates impact into a precise point, while the opposite end provides a larger surface for striking.

Warwood’s Grade B Round Track Punch follows AREMA Plan #19. It has an 11/16-inch round punch face, a beveled 1 5/8-inch striking face and is available with 24-inch or 36-inch American hickory handles, including Safety Grip options.

Tie Plug Punches

Tie plugs are treated wood pegs used to fill old spike holes in railroad ties. A tie plug punch has a square working face intended to fit and drive these plugs. It is a good example of why railroad work uses specialized tools: a round punch cannot seat a square tie plug as cleanly or consistently.

Track Adzes

A track adze, also called a railroad adze, shapes railroad ties and bridge timbers. It is related to a carpenter adze but has a longer bit intended to help protect the handle in use. The tool is swung downward with two hands toward a workpiece positioned between the user’s feet.

The Warwood Track Adze has a 6 lb head, a rounded 4-inch cutting edge and a 34-inch hickory or Safety Grip handle. It is made to the latest revision of AREMA Plan #12.

Warwood Track Adze in use on railroad timber work — A Warwood Track Adze in use for railroad timber work.

Clay Picks and Spike Pullers

Clay picks break and loosen compacted material where a digging or prying tool is needed. The point concentrates force into hard ground, ballast or packed material. A spike puller is different: it grips and extracts spikes. Do not substitute a pick, pry bar or hammer for a properly sized puller when the job is spike removal.

Choosing Railroad Handles

Handle length changes leverage, clearance and control. Long-handled tools such as spike mauls and track punches provide reach and force, while handle material affects feedback and durability. American hickory remains a traditional choice for its ability to absorb shock. Fiberglass may be selected for certain work environments, and Warwood’s Safety Grip handle is designed for greater grip in demanding conditions.

Inspect the handle before each shift. A loose head, cracked handle, heavily mushroomed striking face or damaged cutting edge should be addressed before the tool is put back into service.

The Bottom Line

Track work is not a place for near-enough tools. Spike mauls, track punches, tie plug punches and track adzes each solve a specific maintenance problem. The correct pattern helps make the work safer, more accurate and more productive.