Extreme Heat Causes Railroads to Bend
A Moment of Science

Extreme Heat Causes Railroads to Bend

B2Upper-intermediateOctober 15, 20262 min
  • Science

Extreme Heat Causes Railroads to Bend

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It's summertime, so get out your beach towels and plan your vacation.

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stroke.

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It's summertime, so get out your beach towels and plan your vacation. Of course, you'll also want to apply sunscreen, stay hydrated, and know the signs of heat stroke. And just as you take care of your body and extreme temperatures, railroads have to watch

0:21

out for overheating, too. Railways lay tracks at something called the neutral temperature, representing the middle temperatures of the local environment. For instance, the neutral temperature is lower in Alaska than in Florida. In each case, the steel rails can tolerate both chilly winter

0:40

nights and sweltering summer afternoons. But steel, just like your own body, doesn't like extreme weather. When tracks endure excessive heat, the steel expands. Eventually, the stress of this expansion can cause the tracks to buckle or suddenly bend to the side. In locomotive lingo, this is called a sun kink. Some sun kinks are gentle curves only a few feet long,

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