5 ms·
The leaves are often partially decomposed into a sticky slime that end up compressed to the tracks from what I’ve read elsewhere.
by dokem 7y ago
The leaves are often partially decomposed into a sticky slime that end up compressed to the tracks from what I’ve read elsewhere.
- gsnedders 7y agoThis. Actual dry leaves that can be blown off really aren't the trouble, it's wet ones that quickly turn into sludge and just get compressed into slicker and slicker slime that provides no traction. The current solution in most of the world is essentially high-pressure jets of water to clean the rail; obviously you eventually reach a point where you don't have enough pressure to dislodge the goop.
- ars 7y agoWhat about a nylon brush?
- khr 7y agoMy non-engineer guess is that a nylon brush would be shaved down pretty quickly by rail contact at typical train speeds, so that it would be ineffective at removing debris after a very short time.
- deleted 7y ago[deleted]
- gsnedders 7y agoPlus I imagine it'll apply nowhere near as much pressure on the track, so you'd end up needing a lot of brushes and then they'd all be wearing down quickly at 60mph or so.
- kevin_thibedeau 7y agoThe current system is to put sand on the rails for added traction.
- gsnedders 7y agoMost places don't use sand alone to treat the rails after cleaning them, and haven't for a long time. Sandite is used in many places, which essentially adds some sort of metal shot and antifreeze to the sand. The goal is essentially that this mixture will be interspersed with the leaf gunge that accumulates over the day and both provides better traction (sand, antifreeze) and helps any track circuits to continue to function even when the tyres are unable to make direct contact with the rail (metal shot).
- jsjohnst 7y agoDespite what others said about it wearing down, it’d also get clogged up pretty quickly. Otherwise you could potentially use something with more durability, like a steel bristled brush.
- JackFr 7y agoSo the thing is, the leaves are only the problem insofar as they are the source of the oil. The leaves are pressed between wheel and rail and leave a film of oil, which a steel or nylon brush isn’t going to clear. Yes, if you get the leaves off the rails, there should never be any oil, but if some slip by your back where you started.
- ape4 7y agoNot as cool
- yellow_lead 7y agoAh, thanks for the insight. Someone had to ask :)