heliocentric's Journal: Rail Burns

Sometimes when a train is very heavy (or the breaks are stuck) it won't move.

Most times the amp meter and the spedeometer indicate this to the engineer, and most engineers then stop the locomotive to figure things out.

But not always.

If the wheels spin and spin and spin, but the train goes nowhere, then the friction that builds up from this metal rubbing on metal can melt the rails themselves.

Check out these examples of rail burns.

a subject!

[Alioth]

Holy crap, those are just a little bit severe (previous pictures of this kind of thing that I've seen have been a small scuff in the rail head).

Of course, the converse happens - the old British Rail leaves on the line 'excuse', where the wet leaves on the rail head get crushed and turned into a highly effective lubricant. As soon as the driver applies the brakes, the wheel skids and you get a flat spot on each wheel that skidded. (I suspect more modern stock with anti-skid doesn't suffer this as much).

Then

Re:a subject!

[heliocentric]

The most amazing thing I've seen in my days of laying rail and such was a broken rail on a major mainline. It broke due to shrinking during a big cold snap one winter. Well, there were so many trains backed up for miles that not all trains could be routed around the area. So, several pieces of large rope were brought to the scene and doused with kerosene.

Then about 100 feet on either side of the break got rope that was then lit on fire. The heat caused the rail to expand and go back together - temporari

Re:a subject!

[Alioth]

We have a lot of multiple units in Britain (DMUs, EMUs etc). which I think have anti-skid systems on all wheels (but then again, they are integrated units, usually short - 2 or 3 car sets, and when they need longer sets, they just join two trains together to form 6 car sets and so on - hence some of the really ugly Southern region third rail stock with corridor connections in the middle of the driving cab, making them look rather like some kind of grotesque pig). I suspect the loco hauled stuff doesn't have

bad pway

[Alioth]

And looking around further - http://www.zimwiz.com/gallery/etowntrains/DSC06543 [zimwiz.com]

The state of the permanent way in that photograph is absolutely shocking! It must be a bit of a rough ride for passengers.

Re:bad pway

[heliocentric]

The area where that photo was taken was being completely redone.

There is a bridge that needed to be replaced and for a while it was a single track mainline on those temporary tracks.

Things are now continuous welded rail and speeds are higher.

A few miles East of that location are (or were, not sure right now) two grade crossings. These crossings keep (or kept) the train speeds on the entire line from Harrisburg PA to Philly PA down well under 100mph. Somewhere like 75 I think.

With the gradecrossings remove

Re:bad pway

[heliocentric]

See, take a look at the same train then leaving the station - notice that the track is MUCH nicer.

http://www.zimwiz.com/gallery/etowntrains/DSC06612 [zimwiz.com]

bent pieces of track on the embankments

[NeMon'ess]

How did they get so bent up, and why hasn't the company or theives taken them, cut them up, and sold them for scrap?

How did they eventually get the locomotive out of the wheel burns? It's not like they could use floor mats the way a car stuck in mud would.

Re:bent pieces of track on the embankments

[heliocentric]

Okay, I think you're talking about the pic referenced in another post, not the JE itself. If I'm wrong, correct me and we'll go from there.

If I'm right, those are rails that were being pulled out. They are all bendy as they are relatively flexible, especially in the heat of summer. Vandals probably haven't made off with them due to their weight and that it isn't easy to get to there with a vehicle.

They just brought in another engine to pull the "sunk" engine out. I wasn't there for that event, but it mi