Tracks On Fire!

[prbowe]

Cool. I never thoght the cold would be a problem but I suppose mixed with ice those switches could freeze up.

[TrainfanCasey8]

Nice Video. The reason why the tracks are on fire is because they have to keep those track switched heated in those brutal cold conditions. 

[anisocoro]

it seems to me a simple way to keep switch rail free from ice, of course it is quite expensive, but it is necessary because if switch rails are frozen circulation does not occur

[YouAreABunghole]

Chuck Norris Exp, arriving on track 5.

[Brolythesupersayain]

looks like the tracks met ghost rider

[xam107]

I know the railway companies use heaters for the switch rails but flamethrowers XD

[thelocoshed]

Redneck point heaters

[GWR4079]

who ever says this is fake needs slap the fires are there simply to heat the points so they dont freeze or stick

[mkmcclure]

Tower B2 where the ex-Milwaukee crosses the ex-CNW at about 30 degrees. Slow!

[HSetOSCAR]

Did you record this with the Panasonic Potato W215?

[ParkerFtL]

They do that to keep the switches warm so they don't freeze together and not open for a train. Nothing unsual about it!

[Engineer9736]

It's probably for stopping the switches from freezing stuck.

[HaltonRailfan]

To keep the turnouts from freezing.

[xr6lad]

Simple. They light a fire to warm the metal so the points don't freeze over......

[rachaelmatt]

Yeah isnt it to stop the junctions freezing

[Spartan890]

im guessing it stops the switches from freezing over?

[gmsd70mac]

same as sludge pots.

[ecoRfan]

First time I saw this I was on an NJ Transit train pulling into Newark during a snowfall. I was like "Holy crap the tracks are on fire!!" Then I told the conductor, and he told me that those are kerosene lamps used for heating the switches in freezing temperatures. The switches ought to be able to work.

[friscobob56]

Good illustration of switch heaters in action.

[WowOmgStudios]

I've always wanted to see tracks on fire..

[TheRantingCabbie]

Could also be referred to as redneck switch heaters

[AlexAcE1]

for not freezing the switches...

[johnjackstif]

ok,wow

[amarkanders777]

switch heaters are used so that the switches can be used when there's snow/ice in the area that could possibly interfere with their operation. saves manual labor of section help with brooms, dangerous work near the tracks!

[rickpawl]

Fake? You moron, it's as real as can be. I saw it, I filmed it, lots of people who work for the railroad know it's real.

[trackend]

@rickpawl They are gas operated point heaters to keep them free from ice usually propane bottle fed

[1madaboutguitar]

FAKE

[pingpongpung]

@1madaboutguitar TROLL

[pmdoepfer]

Doing this actually serves a couple of purposes. The first being keeping the points from freezing up. During cold weather the rails will contract, so the heaters also heat the rails to expand them and help prevent pull-aparts at the joints in the heel and frog of the switch

[rickpawl]

I KNOW they are switch heaters. The title was just a joke!

[Shenandoah58]

Those are not tracks on fire...they are switch and point heaters, usually kerosene

to keep the switch points from freezing up and the mechanisms working.....

[GatewayXl]

Reminds me of Hey Arnold

[Assmark]

Working for the railroad: A badass job

[TheDylanJoyce]

Wouldn't that be a concern of Catching the Locomotives fuel tank on fire? if there were a leak that nobody knew about. What about a freight train pulling Propane cars. But, i'm sure they know what they are doing...

[sertox12345]

this looks like lirr at jamica staation

[WorldOfNothin]

not something you see everyday lol pretty neat, I know they do stuff like this once in a while to keep ice from building up and freezing the tracks!!!

[cochranexyz]

How were you able to lean out the window?

[amtrak393]

I got in trouble for filming Metra burning their switches on fire. Metra Police saw me and made me delete it, so u were lucky

[KC0TLV]

nevermind my last comment - was looking in the wrong place on the video :)

[offamychain]

Never seen that done before. Neat.

[jazzmannsteve777]

Don't try this at home they are trained professionals !

[the1thatgotirwin]

maybe someone put a delorean on the tracks and hit 88 mph

[kd5lpr]

@the1thatgotirwin no no it was the time traveling train that hit 88

[railstoruin]

@the1thatgotirwin That hasn't happened since 2016.....

[admiralackbar999]

@the1thatgotirwin sounds like the most logical explenation to me!

[trainzaholic]

@the1thatgotirwin yep i think thats why .... i don't see marty mc fly anywhere

[AshHill07]

I think SouthEastern Trains in the UK need to invest in these on thier points. No trains at all today because of the points freezeing up. They're increadibly lucky nothing derailed.

[tom618ful]

how do they keep the fire going

[rc8rsracer]

@tom618ful gas lines its probably propane

[Aloud11]

that's weird, usually we use heaters that are beside the tracks that have metal shields directing the heat to the switches..pretty cool though

[amtrakfilms139]

It keeps the switches from freezing and the track

[HBMAN665420]

the fires are lit with the grease, and about every twenty minutes a worker comes by and squirts more on, my best friends a rail worker.

[metraF40PH163]

@HBMAN665420 No, not every 20 mins! These are powered with propane...not grease! Get your facts right please.

[Chevroletman75]

@metraF40PH163 around here we're still old school. they dont update the tracks around here, and now i hooked a job for pacific railway, we squirt grease on them.

[metraF40PH163]

@Chevroletman75 I can't belive that a guy has to do this ever 20 mins. Are you talking about burning the rope to do work on the rail? Because if you are that makes sense.

[Chevroletman75]

@metraF40PH163 we light grease fires on the joints to keep them warm, we come by every twent mins to squirt some lamp oil, grease mixture on it. its not like these new propane ones, but it works. and have to be careful too, otherwise youll light the grease gun, and that sucks.

[AlcoholicSemenStain]

@Chevroletman75 I make fires too. Not on train tracks though.

[Manongjojo]

Thats common in the winter to keep the switches from freezing up.

[trainmandan05]

Rail Warmers. . . . .

[aftfnm]

wheres the 3rd rail

[JBofBrisbane]

@aftfnm - no, these are REAL trains, hauled by locomotives.

[SSKar98k]

they're switch heaters

[will107]

They set fire to the frogs and points in the winter to keep them from freezing solid. Its a pretty common practice

[Bus7777]

Nice! Never seen that before. Five stars man!

[briggsjos]

Thats to keep the switches from freezing up. its highly efficient especially in high traffic areas such as a train yard.

[robertgift]

Would ELECTRIC heaters be better?

100% efficient.

Apply heat right where it is needed.

No winds blowing theat away from where it is needed.

Easy to control - turn on and off.

No standing pilot light - if each burner has one.

No refueling.

[SAK8899]

Well lets see you put out the money for them

[robertgift]

I bet new ones would be electric.

The cost of running gas lines, ensuring the pipes are not stressed, and all the other complications

(standing pilot lights?)(what if they blow out) etc.

It is unfortunate the homes have gas furnaces and water heaters. Better would be electricity.

Electricity is 100% efficient. No flues pulling heat out of the water heater or air out of the house 24/7. No chance of explosions or CO poisoning.

[thebesttrainvids]

@robertgift but electric fire

[robertgift]

"electric fire"?

No, briggs, open gas flame is not efficient at all.

Electricity is 100% efficient.

Would be interesting to learn if electric heaters could be made today.

Electric cable is much easier to lay. Gas piping must be protected from stresses which can cause fractures. Also, gas pipes can clog from ice freezing in the line.

[thatguyscomputer]

just lol

electricity is never 100% efficient

although the heater may be a 100% efficient (which is not possible)

power is lost in the line between the power source and the appliance

there is never a 100% energy conversion of the fuel to electricity,

it would be better to say that it is more efficient to use electric heater

[robertgift]

Yes, lol at your understanding.

Electric heat is 100% efficient.

Conversion of fuel sources to electricity is not the issue.

If you want to consider losses in distribution, there is also leakage in the gas distribution system.

Resistive heat elements applied directly to the rails would place heat right where it is needed.

Most of the heat from flames is simply lost to the atmosphere.

[nicholasbreeden]

@robertgift it doesnt matter if it is 100% efficient....it does the job right, and that's all that matters, I seem to be the only one that understands that this railroad can do whatever the hell it is they want to when it comes to their tracks

[robertgift]

Of course they could do whatever they wanted and what was cheapest at the time.

Now, it would be done better.

They would not take out something that works and replace it with something better.

[mt90945557]

@robertgift Dude, Electric water heaters suck, they take twice as long to recover and run out a lot faster. Electric heat is only good where electric prices are low, unfortunately in the Chicago area, Communist Edison has high prices (as do many other areas). Also add the fact that electric heating elements BURN OUT while gas burners almost never lose functionality.

And also with electricity, energy is lost through transmission lines and through mechanical losses so electricity is NOT 100% eff.

[lokalexi1]

Yes. But electric water heaters are 100% efficient, require no flue whose draft is cooling the water and venting its heat outside 24/7 while pulling frigid outside air in to replace air being vented.

Gas transmission has losses and costs and occasional explosions.

Gas thermocouples, upon which the pilot flame impinges, burn out.

Electric heat could be applied right to where it matters and can be easily controlled.

Do these gas switch heaters require a standing pilot light?

[mt90945557]

Okay have you ever heard of direct venting? It is when a water heater or furnace pulls air from outside and vents it right back out.

Also electricity can cause fires and I have seen transformers explode.

Gas heat is also applied where it is needed most and is also easily controlled.

And most newer gas appliances use electronic ignition.

[4202EJW]

I hope you know thats so the switches don't freeze and lock-up!

[Jabbajawz4life]

Here is Chicago we make sure tracks don't freeze lol.I LOVE LIVIN HERE!

[pjtesar101]

cool

[casualclicks]

I've never ridden a train.

[s7o0a0p]

That is the most depressing YouTube comment I have ever seen in my life...;( Please get well, my friend!

[BurgerChefGuy]

Yep, they use those track heaters here, too.

[BWMax1282526]

I have had to to that before, don't you just love winter!

[coolguy676]

Switcher Heaters.

[skinnyshit8888]

coolio

[rockprogmetal]

its a pretty cool way to de ice the tracks but i would also imagine its kind of risky. I love watching the tracks like that when i ride the train in the winter tho

[FreezEntertainment]

why is there such a big fire ahead tho?

[DH082008]

LOL! thats just another train coming!

[coolguy676]

LOL

[RSSsailing]

i hope you are joking. the tracks are obviously on fire. by the way they are switcher heaters, used to keep the tracks from freezing together.

[Protogrolldroid]

headlights of another train i suppose

[robertgift]

Would not ELECTRIC heaters be better?

Automatic and efficient.

Here, so much heat is simply lost to the atmosphere.

[bicyclexc]

there are a lot of things the government could buy for Amtrak.

[hihat101]

@bicyclexc like electrical point/switch heaters like in Europe, 

[megatwingo]

5*****

[turntablesihs008]

Those are switch warmers to prevent snow from getting stuck and screwing up the switch

[CountVonBoco]

Somewhat accurate, the flame is used to keep the points, or the 2 rails that determine the direction of the train, from freezing together to the outside rails. In that case, it will render the switch inoperable, and snarl traffic up.

[devine666darkness]

man thats kool never knew they did that

[dneidorff]

LIRR still does this at Jamaica

[anb740]

Propane switch heaters. It keeps the MoW from having to constantly go out to sweep the snow out of the frogs and switchpoints!

[trainsruleandroll]

nice! classic de-freezing

[ASUSfan08]

I think aircrafts use a similar de-icing technique

[ChicagoMETRA]

Thay do that so the track switches dont freeze up

[Metracab123]

They light the tracks on the fire so when a 15 mph train is going through the yard to get to union station the switching track does'nt freeze up and go on the wrong track and hit another amtrak or metra train.

[nicholasbreeden]

when the Union Pacific Railroad was killing steam they used the 844 with some steam pipes coming out of the front directly from the boiler on to the tracks to melt snow and thaw ice. Just a little fact

[wyomingrailfan]

It was during the late 50s to 1961 when they were using it. After UP had stored/scrapped/retired all their steam. Railfan groups got UP to charter the 844 for trips and that is mainly why it is not stuff n' mounted or Toyotas.

[AdWhWaHo]

were you hanging out of the train?

[wouldyouohwait]

I have seen the yard workers near Union Station in Toronto use Kerosene mini flame throwers on the switch tracks in the winter when they freeze. This was back in the late 80's early 90's.

[ibook133]

Nice.

[ibuy4unow]

Cool, In canada we use them Big Track switch Heaters... Never seen auctual Fire on Track level.

Cool Tho.

[TrainManTy]

Those are switch heaters... They keep the switches from freezing in place.

[trainkids]

How'd that happen?

[railmogul2]

This is perfectly normal. My dad worked in a railroad yard and they would do that to keep the switches from freezing over.  His uncle drove an ATSF 4-8-4 that hit a frozen switch and caused a serious accident.

[joeferrito]

Wow....was he okay?

[railmogul2]

I will have to ask my dad but I think that event ended his career

[joeferrito]

that's kinda sad

[MattBNSF1991]

is it 1871 again?!!?!?

dumb joke... lol

[gyjg6564167]

I remember seeing those when traveling on the Northbound Hiawatha out of Chicago! This fire method is used during the winter times. Keep the switches from freezing into place.

[losdowgg]

wtf

[MarcelHall21]

And whats the Speed limited on the Train to Switch to another Track?

[MarcelHall21]

How did the Tracks Get on Fire?

[Gerrit22041992]

;-)

[Gerrit22041992]

i knew why fire! There is fire, because there are movintracks and it is cold. So there is ice bad, because the train can have an accident then. Sorry for my english, i am from Germany

[rickpawl]

You are correct Gerrit. The fires keep the switches from freezing solid. Your english is good! Guten Tag! : )

[jph0917]

I've seen that when I take the train to Boston. Every few feet as you head toward's North Station through the Somerville yard, there are blue/yellow flames coming up from the rails to keep them from freezing over.

[robbbilo]

@rickpawl In holland we do this too, but most times it fails... I think we go electric now!

[TommyBNSF]

Hey it looks like he has a Cascades unit as the third! Nice fire!

[Renard380]

De-icing for sure, in my country we use electric heat into the switch. I'm very surprised to see that you use this method to keep your switches from freezing, doesn't it damage the track? And what if a train has to stop right on top of one of those fires? Anyway i guess they wouldn't do that if there was a real danger so i'm just surprised to see this ;)

[SF3751]

Not enough heat to do any damage. But I can't tell you what would happen if a train stoped over a fire lol.

[trainsmaniac2009]

It is the Empire Builder, not the Zephyr.

[rickpawl]

How do you know?

[trainsmaniac2009]

Because the plant (junction) that it is going through is called Tower A-2 and the line that its coming off of is the Canadian Pacific/Metra line to Kenosha, WI. I've been on the Empire Builder once and I just know. Also, the consist of the cars are in the way of the Empire Builder consist. It is neat, though, because the third unit up front is an Amtrak Cascades F59PHI.

[Amtrakacela8]

Why was there fire on the tracks?

[rickpawl]

I didn't even notice at the time. I assume the little fires are to keep the switches from freezing, maybe? Anyone know?

[Trains232]

think your right

[SF3751]

You are correct. Its a very old method, it looks like they haven't got the time to insert electreic heating machines in the switches...yet, so they go with this old method.

[gyjg6564167]

Makes perfect sense because going into Chicago is like HELL! LOL

[BTCRAIL101FILMS]

@rickpawl ya, it keeps them from freezing

[joshmeister4449]

@Amtrakacela8 those are switch heaters, they keep the frogs and other parts of the switches from freezing

[PVincent342]

that looks like the Empire builder according to the consist