[en] Structural changes running in a rail steel type M76 on electron beam quenching in the air are under study. The microhardness of a ∼1.2 mm thick hardened zone constitutes 800-900 HV. A short-term electron beam tempering makes possible decreasing microhardness down to ∼400-700 HV. It is established that the electron beam hardening ensures an increase of steel wear resistance by factors of ∼2-3 under the action of fixed and not strongly fixed abrasive particles. The data obtained allows one to recommend the method of electron beam processing for the hardening side faces of heads of rails