the-BA : On the right track

During the 2003 heat wave, loads of trains were issued with a speed restriction. It was because the sun was heating up the steel rail tracks to temperatures as high as 50 degrees. As they heat up they expand and – if it’s really, really hot – there’s a chance the tracks might buckle. Depending on the level of risk, high speed trains (100 mph) were restricted to 60-90 mph from lunchtime to about six or seven o’clock in the evening, when it starts to cool down.

Have you ever wondered what measures are taken to stop rail tracks from buckling in the sunshine?

You might like to …

• test samples of different steels for their coefficient of expansion
• compare the friction between steel wheels and steel rail and rail with leaves on
• devise a test to show that the rails are exactly at the correct distance apart
• investigate the forces pushing on rails by locomotives on narrow gauge railways and standard gauge.

Further links:
http://www.networkrail.co.uk/

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