Chicago trains drive over flaming tracks

Posted by aqaq on Friday January 28, 2022 @09:26AM
from the bbc.com dept.

( 3 comments | on HN )

Re:Chicago trains drive over flaming tracks by PopAlongKid on Friday January 28, 2022 @09:56AM (#30115366)

It's only to keep the switches from freezing. The straight, unswitched lengths of track do not need or use this.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Chicago trains drive over flaming tracks by Kon-Peki on Friday January 28, 2022 @11:58AM (#30117283)

So is Chicago an outlier? Plenty of other places get cold in winter, and have trains. How does the rest of the world keep the switches from freezing?

Probably worth noting that a few days ago, when this video was likely recorded, the daily temperature range in Chicago was -4F to 7F (-20C to -13C).

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Chicago trains drive over flaming tracks by PopAlongKid on Friday January 28, 2022 @03:56PM (#30120241)

I think it's common. Here is a reference to a news article from 100 years ago, for a different location.

[ Parent | on HN ]