Quote:
Originally Posted by Gate Keeper
I don’t understand why the railway tracks in the UK suffer so badly with the heat? Are they made from inferior materials?
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If these sort of 30+ temperatures were the norm the tracks would be laid to those specifications Phil. The UK uses continuous welded rail on mainlines, that's why you no longer get the clickety clack you used to get with the old 60' lengths! The rails are laid at a temperature mid range between the normal extremes in that area, pre stressed and welded together, makes for a smoother ride and less wear on trains and track but there's the
possibility of the rails buckling in
extreme heat outwith the specifications the rail was laid to. If "critical rail temperature" is reached speed restrictions are imposed, there's no way of knowing the rails have buckled other than visually.
Its a similar problem with the overhead lines, there are weights built in every so far to compensate for expansion but 35+ temperatures are outwith the normal specifications.