(no subject)
Jan. 23rd, 2007 10:08 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bzarcherAh-hah.
I think I may have figured out the train tracks thing: They were still burning this morning, but as we went by, in daylight it's very obvious that the burning sections are all new metal.
I think what might be going on is that they heated these replacement rail sections up as high as possible, which is the reason for the fires, so that they'd expand and weld themselves to the existing rails.
That's really neat, actually.
I think I may have figured out the train tracks thing: They were still burning this morning, but as we went by, in daylight it's very obvious that the burning sections are all new metal.
I think what might be going on is that they heated these replacement rail sections up as high as possible, which is the reason for the fires, so that they'd expand and weld themselves to the existing rails.
That's really neat, actually.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 05:01 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 05:34 pm (UTC)That typically leaves anything combustible nearby on FIRE.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 06:14 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 08:30 pm (UTC)Basically, they fill a giant flowerpot with thermite on top of the joint--- light it, and walk away.
Now rail welding isn't the most impressive sight--- rail grinding is...
Watching the rail grinding train go down the mainline at dusk was like watching hell incarnate. On rails.
no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 08:37 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-23 09:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 10:35 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2007-01-26 12:18 pm (UTC)