The study explored the effects of a double buffer layer on a railroad substrate made of Q55 steel using the Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) method. The two buffer layers used are Panalloy 312 MA for the first layer and 307 MA for the second layer, while the surface layer, which is the third layer, uses HiMn. The welding technique used bead pattern string and weaving on a railroad substrate Q55. Various tests were performed, including Vickers Micro Hardness testing, Charpy impact testing, Ogoshi wear testing, and metallographic analysis using Optical Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy-Electron Dispersive Spectrometer (SEM–EDS). The findings indicate that the double buffer layer significantly increases the material’s toughness. The average hardness value achieved was 467 HV, and impact testing with an average impact value of 46.05 J. Wear resistance exhibited an average abraded volume of 0.01667 mm3. The results of the layers between layers show no delamination, meaning that fusion occurs in each layer. SEM–EDS analysis confirmed a uniform chemical distribution in the weld seams and demonstrated a ductile fracture mechanism in the impacted specimens. This research aids in selecting the optimal buffer layer to enhance the performance and longevity of high-carbon steel used in railroads. © The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2026.