In order to participate in the GunBroker Member forums, you must be logged in with your GunBroker.com account. Click the sign-in button at the top right of the forums page to get connected.

Extreme Cold - train rails are being set on fire.

droptopdroptop Member Posts: 8,367 ✭✭
edited February 2019 in General Discussion
In Chicago, although what's good for Chicago might be good for other areas.

Can't say I've ever heard of train rails being set of fire,, is this new or some "clever way" Pyromaniacs have found to make money???

No telling what the contract is worth. Lots of pictures and videos on the link.

It's more than COLD it's a POLAR VORTEX.. hide.gif Think of it as the BLOB with frostbite splotches.

https://www.breitbart.com/local/2019/01/30/watch-chicago-train-tracks-set-on-fire-to-combat-polar-vortex/

Comments

  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 25,583 ******
    edited November -1
    Next, The Weather Channel will name it.
    ?Polar Vortex Henry?
  • Smitty500magSmitty500mag Member Posts: 13,603 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
  • montanajoemontanajoe Forums Admins, Member, Moderator Posts: 57,893 ******
    edited November -1
  • fordsixfordsix Member Posts: 8,722
    edited November -1
    not new but to millenials they have gas burners in the switch tracks to keep unfroze[:0][:o)]
  • roswellnativeroswellnative Member Posts: 10,105 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    seems like a stupid thing to do. It?s going to burn for a minute maybe, then what
    Although always described as a cowboy, Roswellnative generally acts as a righter of wrongs or bodyguard of some sort, where he excels thanks to his resourcefulness and incredible gun prowesses.
  • Bubba Jr.Bubba Jr. Member Posts: 8,176 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    They don't set the rails on fire. There are propane burners going to keep the switch points from freezing to the rails. That way they can still change the switches remotely. Otherwise, if the switches freeze up they have to send a maintainer out to manually operate the switch, and he may be hours away on another job.
  • Bubba Jr.Bubba Jr. Member Posts: 8,176 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Bubba Jr.
    They don't set the rails on fire. There are propane burners going to keep the switch points from freezing to the rails. That way they can still change the switches remotely. Otherwise, if the switches freeze up they have to send a maintainer out to manually operate the switch, and he may be hours away on another job.


    BTW, this has been going on since the 1800s, it's not a new thing.
  • guns-n-painthorsesguns-n-painthorses Member Posts: 6,463 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    And, the true purpose of them is not to keep the points from freezing, bit to keep the snow and ice from getting packed behind the points, preventing them from operating correctly. Trust me, I'd rather set and fuel 20 switch heaters that pick out snowbound switches. 30 years of fighting winter to keep them running and on the tracks.
  • JimmyJackJimmyJack Member Posts: 5,385 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I read where the rails are so cold they contract and snap off the spikes? They lay down a fuel soaked roap of some kind next to the rails and when ignited they heat up the metal to counter the schrinking, but how long would that last? Minutes when it is 35 below.
  • wolfpackwolfpack Member Posts: 1,130 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Guns is correct on the switch heaters. During extreme cold, and sometimes not too extreme cold, the rail does contract and bolts are broken in the rail joints. The fix to this is applying heat to the rail by way of laying next to the rail, peatmoss, sawdust,or burning rope ( piece of large wick type rope generally 50' or more in length) all soaked heavily in kerosene or a recently new product called rail snake which is already soaked and will burn about 30 minutes and comes in 4 pieces 10' each in 5 gallon buckets. After heating the rail joints are reassembled using new bolts and with proper anchoring of the rail the problem is generally taken care of. If problem returns the solution then is to cut the rail and install a longer piece that covers the gap in the joint that was created when the rail pulled apart. Opposite happens in the summer months when the rail expands in the heat and it causes the track to become out of alignment because of thermal stress. Been fixing these problems for 37 years plus.
  • Okie743Okie743 Member Posts: 2,580 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Is anyone concerned?

    Heard that in Chicago they cannot breath through their mouth it's so cold.

    Should not be a problem. Most of them breath (and talk) through the opposite end anyway.

    Maybe some of their banned guns will freeze up also.

    [:D]
  • 4205raymond4205raymond Member Posts: 3,201 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    On his march to the sea, Billie Boy Sherman heated those rails, bent them double and no one could fix them. So much for supply lines course we burned Richmond down so he could not steal our supplies.
Sign In or Register to comment.