3 ms·
I'd think the brush would muck up
by brink 4y ago
I'd think the brush would muck up
- alar44 4y agoOk so use a piece of metal? I really really don't understand how leaves are an issue with trains. Anyone know why they can't just use a cowcatcher like device?
- chipsa 4y agoIt's not leaves on the line that are in a pile, it's leaves on the line that get smashed onto the rail, and make the already low friction rails even lower friction. If you can't stop and you can't go, then the railroad isn't going to take you anywhere.
- robertlagrant 4y agohttps://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewinkless/2021/10/27/why-leaves-on-the-line-cause-problems-for-trains/ https://www.forbes.com/sites/lauriewinkless/2021/10/27/why-l...
- jandrese 4y agoI'm guessing not all of the tracks are welded rails and so they have expansion joints, which means a cow catcher like device trying to scrape a rail clean might hang up on a joint and get destroyed. Plus it would wear down quickly with the metal on metal contact.
- kodah 4y agoThe problem isn't necessarily the leaves but the cellulose that's driven out of the leaf and onto the steel rail when it's run over. Additionally, the steel wheels of a train get really hot and probably turn the cellulose (and whatever else is in a tree leaf) into a pretty hard to deal with substance that coats the rail and (likely) the wheel. That makes braking difficult and can probably contribute to safety problems.
- robbedpeter 4y agoIt's the sticky crap - sap, cellulose, sugars, plant fats. This can fix larger debris in place, accelerating pitting and weathering of the rail. The co2 pellets freeze the sticky crap, which then gets shattered and dispersed, leaving clean bare metal behind. A scraper or brush would leave nasty residue.