The micro mechanical properties and wear characteristics of PD3 and U71Mn rail materials were studied using nanoindenter and AFM,and the macro mechanical properties and wear performance were investigated by static tension tests and simulation experiments. The results indicate that the micro and macro mechanical properties of two kinds of materials are consistent,it is that PD3 rail has bigger hardness,stronger compression capability,better resistance to wear,while U71Mn rail has higher plasticity,better resistance to fatigue. Micro test results show that the abrasive wear is the main wear mechanism while the load is smaller,and with the increase of load,the alternating stress is increased,ditch lines appear at both sides of PD3 rail nick in the effect of fatigue,seriously plastic deformation is produced for U71Mn under the furrow friction function. Micro and macro experimental results are consistent,the measurement error is within 5%,so in some extent,micro experiments can substitute macro experiment to analyze the friction and wear characteristics of rail materials.