Abstract
The paper presents a short review on the past research and recent trends in the development of rail and wheel steels using bainitic morphology from the angle of mechanical and wear performances. The enhancement in mechanical properties as well wear resistance of the bainitic rail and wheel steels is very promising. In addition, the mechanical behaviour of a bainitic rail steel and a wheel steel along with their linearly reciprocating dry sliding wear characteristics in comparison to the existing pearlitic rail and ferritic–pearlitic wheel steels used in Indian Railways is discussed. The steels were subjected to austempering heat treatment at different temperatures and durations in the bainitic region as determined from the TTT diagrams of the respective steels. Bainitic steels show better mechanical properties and wear resistance due to the typical morphology of bainitic microstructural.