Natika33
Active Member
Oh, I know why it happens (but thank you for the explanation anyways), just wondered why we can't use expansion joints or something else so we don't have to worry about this. Lived in Japan for a bit & they get hotter than here (albeit not as cold), and they don't have this issue, so I thought it might be solvable, but it seems after ready all the comments likely not.It applies to all railway tracks, especially welded rail - at higher temperature metal expands, and if that expansion happens along a very long piece of rail, the accumulated stress can create a kink in the rail. The track is designed and built to minimise this, but when the temperature reaches the 30's in bright sun, the risk is greater and it makes sense to play it safe. Lower speeds mean the stresses imposed by the train on the rail (which add to the thermal stresses) are less.
There were plenty of track patrols out there yesterday and this will no doubt continue as long as the weather holds.
- Paul
PS - it happens to other civil structures also - eg bridges are built with expansion joints as they expand and contract with temperature.
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