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Chicago 07/01/2015 at 09:21 #67473
uboat
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219 posts 		an item on Adelaide's Channel 7 stated that due to the big freeze they are
setting the railway tracks on fire to thaw them out. not sure where in Chicago?
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Chicago 07/01/2015 at 12:34 #67476
UKTrainMan
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1803 posts 		A quick Google search brings up numerous items relating to this.

Perhaps of note is


Quote:

Question
On my way into work last Wednesday as my Lake Street CTA train approached downtown, I couldn't help but notice that Metra tracks on the ground down below appeared to be aflame. There were small fires in a number of spots, but no one seemed to be alarmed and trains were traveling over the hot spots as if nothing were wrong.

Was I hallucinating, or what?

Answer
That was no mirage.

It was snowing last Wednesday morning, and when there's precipitation along with cold, rail switches have a nasty habit of freezing. This can disrupt a railroad's operations in a major way.

At newer installations, Metra has electric heaters that are turned on when the weather gets bad, but there are still switches on the system where gas heaters-with visible flames-are used.

Officials say the gas models operate well as long as engineers don't exceed 30 mph as they pass by. At greater speeds, trains can blow out the flame.
Any views and / or opinions expressed by myself are from me personally and do not represent those of any company I either work for or am a consultant for.
Last edited: 07/01/2015 at 12:35 by UKTrainMan
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Chicago 07/01/2015 at 12:53 #67478
Jersey_Mike
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250 posts 		" said:
an item on Adelaide's Channel 7 stated that due to the big freeze they are
setting the railway tracks on fire to thaw them out. not sure where in Chicago?
A news outlet got a hold of a YouTube video and now it appears to be making the rounds.

Direct burn point heaters are not the most common method to melt snow in North America, but they were preferred by a number of freight and commuter railroads over electric resistance and forced air type heaters. They especially work well on slip switches in cold climates. Here is a photo of the Western Ave points linked to in the previous post when not on fire.

https://www.acm.jhu.edu//~sthurmovik/Railpics/10-06-19_WESTERN_AVE/TOWER_A-2-39-33-doubleslip+41-MPF-angled.html

The metal bars next to the rail head are the gas burners.

Here is a gas powered forced air type heater in operation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yq_4xK7ms24

And an all-electric variety.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ifLjygQU7I

In warmer areas some railroads can get away with smudge pots placed under the rails and then set alight by signal maintainers in advance of snow.

https://www.acm.jhu.edu//~sthurmovik/Railpics/08-07-11_SAVAGE/CSX_SAVAGE-smudge-pots.html

Point heating might be an interesting feature to add to SimSig. If you don't turn them on then the points freeze up.
Last edited: 07/01/2015 at 12:54 by Jersey_Mike
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