Abstract: The rotating bending fatigue property of smooth and notched specimens cut from domestic EA4T axle steel was tested according to the standard of EN13261-2009 and the fracture morphology was observed. The results show that the fatigue strength of the domestic EA4T axle steel met the requirements of EN13261-2009, and the fatigue strength of the notched specimen was 30% less than that of the smooth specimen; the rotating bending fatigue cracks initiated from a single source on the surface of the smooth specimen, while the cracks in notched specimen were originated from several points around the notch root; non propagating cracks were also observed at the notch root of the non fractured notched specimen.