Abstract: The disclosure relates to laying railroad rail. The rail is placed on the unspiked tie plates of a roadbed. One end is fixed in place. Starting at the fixed end, successive sections of the rail are if necessary subjected to heat exchange to bring them to a predetermined temperature, relates to the mean ambient temperature of the locality where the rail is being laid. The necessary heating or cooling may be performed using means moved along the rail from the fixed end toward the free end. In order that rail may be laid at said predetermined temperature and while stress free, vibrations are imparted to the rail whereby any stress tending to develop in the rail from expansion or contraction, because of the temperature change, is relieved. The stress free rail at the predetermined temperature is then spiked in place and rail anchors are applied.