Metallbahn

Metallbahn is a German-language term that historically refers to a railway track system whose running surfaces are made from metal rails, typically steel. In many contexts the term is descriptive rather than a formal technical designation, used to distinguish metal rails from earlier or alternative track systems such as wooden or rope-based arrangements.

Etymology and usage: The word Metallbahn combines Metall (metal) and Bahn (railway). It appears in 19th-century German industrial literature and in some railway dictionaries, but it is largely obsolete in contemporary engineering terminology. Modern German generally uses terms like Eisenbahn (railway) or Gleis and Schiene to describe track and rail components.

Technology: A Metallbahn comprises rails laid on sleepers with wheelsets rolling on the metal running surfaces. Steel rails offer higher strength and durability than wooden or earlier iron rails, enabling higher speeds and heavier loads. Typical track components include rails, sleepers, fasteners, and ballast. In current practice, continuous welded rails reduce joints for smoother rides, and prefabricated concrete sleepers are common in many networks.

History and context: The widespread adoption of steel rails in the 19th century represented a major advancement in track technology, replacing earlier cast iron and iron rails due to better wear resistance and reliability. Today the term Metallbahn is largely of historical or regional interest, with Eisenbahn as the standard term for rail transport and Stahlbahn occasionally used in discussions of steel-based track systems. See also Eisenbahn, Gleis, Schiene.