Mike's Railroad Crossing Forum

http://www.myfoxdfw.com/dpp/news/080511 ... exas-Train

This derailment was likely caused by heat buckling the tracks. It was near Mineola, on the UP line that runs along US 80.

Also, the heat caused a switch failure that delayed a TRE passenger train between Dallas and Fort Worth.

In addition, for the last several days, DCTA has reduced the speed of their trains due to the possibility of heat damaging tracks.

High temps have been over 100 for more than a month now.

The high reached 110 a few days ago.

It was 92 degrees at 4 AM a few days ago.

Is this a problem in places like Arizona where it is regularly this hot?

Back in 2006 when I took videos from Ash Fork, I was talking with an ex-ATSF employee at the Double A Ranch crossing, and a train heading down the Phoenix sub was restricted to a 10 MPH speed limit due to the heat. Somehow I bet this is a common occurrence for that line.

One big advantage that jointed rail has over ribbon is that the joints allow for a lot of expansion & contraction during temperature extremes. I've been told that the metal "recipie" for ribbon rail is a certain blend (maybe more nickle) that reduce the amount of that movement. It's still steel though; it's gonna expand & contract with the temperature.

Smjh1979 wrote:Back in 2006 when I took videos from Ash Fork, I was talking with an ex-ATSF employee at the Double A Ranch crossing, and a train heading down the Phoenix sub was restricted to a 10 MPH speed limit due to the heat. Somehow I bet this is a common occurrence for that line.

I have never heard of that happening, but I might have to ask some people and find out.