Process of manufacturing the railroad wheels has been considered. In this process, heating of continuously cast billets is performed in ring rotary furnace. This leads to metal loss due to oxidation. In order to reduce the loss, formation of scale and its structure have been investigated. The wheel steel of St55 grade is widely applied. Chemical composition of the steel has been presented. Results of the investigations have made it possible to determine regularities in formation of the scale. Structure of the scale has been described. Opportunities of optimal conditions of heating the billets have been shown.