Last updated 1 February 2001. To Railway Technical Web Pages Home Page and Contents List . The Wheel on the Rail Railway wheels sit on the rails without guidance except for the shape of the tyre in relation to the rail head. Contrary to popular belief, the flanges should not touch the rails.
Flanges are only a last resort to prevent the wheels becoming derailed - a safety feature.
The degree of coning is set by the railway company and it varies from place to place. The angle can wear to as little as 1 in 1.25 before the wheel is reprofiled. The shape and location of wheels and rails on straight track. Note that the flanges do not normally touch the rails. On curved track, the outer wheel has a greater distance to travel than the inner wheel.