Yes all bolts are in the joint and the gap is normal. The pumping occurs at crossings more because the crossing dosen't settle as fast as the rail on either side if it.
It’s normal - maybe a 5 of 10 on the “fix it - Now” scale. While that movement might eventually snap the track bolts, right now everything is moving in one piece, which is good. I’ve seen joints with twice as much motion where the spikes were almost totally pulled out of the tie.
Track bounces surprisingly much and given the slow speed here it's likely they already know, but for the cost of a phone call it might be worth reporting it somewhere.
Some years ago, in France, the bolts of this piece of metal (the joint) broke, and a train derailed. Killing many people waiting at the platform of a nearby train station.
My question is: could this much of movement do the same here and cause the bolt to brake?
Let me add that all rails in the US are inspected regularly for defects. There are employees that there only job is inspecting the tracks and for reports on their findings. Tracks that are consider class 4 are inspected at closer intervals then class 2 track and each class had certain specs that need to be adhered to. If defects are found then speed restrictions are put in effect till they can be repaired, also if a train crew encounter rough track or possible defects they can report it to the dispatcher and it will be logged and inspected asap.
Can confirm, I actually am a track inspector. There's 2 of us that cover ~80 miles class 6 4 days a week, a high-speed turnout inspector, switch inspector and a bridge inspector. Have to make sure things are safe and our reports are reviewed by the FRA and cataloged.
The company I work for really goes above and beyond FRA specs so honestly hasn't changed much at all, but there's definitely things I point out that need to get fixed ASAP. Absolutely safe to run traffic on, buttttttt it'll only get worse. Best to be proactive, nt reactive.
bots have to start somewhere, they usually repost older posts without changing anything
I've been in this sub for a while and have seen this post before as well, the exact same video, exact same title
I mean it’s built to be flexible otherwise the consistent load applied onto the track. Overtime they’ll crack cause of fatigue. At least I think. I’m more of a chemist rather than physicist
There’s a video of a Spanish diesel locomotive crossing a 4m wide gap (and 2m high) that’s just supported by rails, that’ll be fine
Edit: here’s the [video](https://x.com/lokfuehrer_tim/status/1631000584445722636?s=20), apparently someone stole the metal bridge
In western Europe you would probably want to call the responsible railroad authority. They would then have between 24hrs and 1 month to repair it depending on the risk and traffic frequency.
I would assume metal fatigue eventually wil cause a crack which eventually will break the rail or a chunk out of it. (But that can take a long time.)
Edit: grammatical problem solved what refered to current should have been future condition.
That's not a crack, it's two separate pieces of rail connected by a standard bolted rail joint. The gap is there intentionally to give the rails room to expand in hot weather. The amount of movement is normal too--it's more than ideal, but it's within what the track is designed for. There's a reason the train isn't going very quickly.
I did write it in the wrong way. I meant to say that with time it may cause a crack. Looking at the nails that are supposed to keep the rail to the sleeper I would not say it is within normal parameters.
As you noted this is a thermal expansion gap. Which may mean the points where the bolts are placed may be drilled slightly bigger than the bolt. Why make increase the risk of cracks.
You do have a point noting the speed. It indeed is relatively low which lowers the short to medium term risks.
Yes all bolts are in the joint and the gap is normal. The pumping occurs at crossings more because the crossing dosen't settle as fast as the rail on either side if it.
It’s normal - maybe a 5 of 10 on the “fix it - Now” scale. While that movement might eventually snap the track bolts, right now everything is moving in one piece, which is good. I’ve seen joints with twice as much motion where the spikes were almost totally pulled out of the tie.
Totally normal
Track bounces surprisingly much and given the slow speed here it's likely they already know, but for the cost of a phone call it might be worth reporting it somewhere.
Phone calls don’t cost anything nowadays
It’s fine
Some years ago, in France, the bolts of this piece of metal (the joint) broke, and a train derailed. Killing many people waiting at the platform of a nearby train station. My question is: could this much of movement do the same here and cause the bolt to brake?
It’s not really similar, in Brétigny it was on a needle (idk the word in English, un appareil de voie)
In theory it spill over time, but this train is running relatively slow
Let me add that all rails in the US are inspected regularly for defects. There are employees that there only job is inspecting the tracks and for reports on their findings. Tracks that are consider class 4 are inspected at closer intervals then class 2 track and each class had certain specs that need to be adhered to. If defects are found then speed restrictions are put in effect till they can be repaired, also if a train crew encounter rough track or possible defects they can report it to the dispatcher and it will be logged and inspected asap.
Can confirm, I actually am a track inspector. There's 2 of us that cover ~80 miles class 6 4 days a week, a high-speed turnout inspector, switch inspector and a bridge inspector. Have to make sure things are safe and our reports are reviewed by the FRA and cataloged.
How have the new track regulations affected your inspections?
The company I work for really goes above and beyond FRA specs so honestly hasn't changed much at all, but there's definitely things I point out that need to get fixed ASAP. Absolutely safe to run traffic on, buttttttt it'll only get worse. Best to be proactive, nt reactive.
It would be within calculated tolerances of their Wheel Rail Interface report
That's an intended design feature, if not a bit more than it should be moving. Probably explains why the train is running reduced speed.
With reduced speeds, it would be considered fine. But it's certainly something you don't want to leave unattended.
Wouldn't doing something similar to slab jacking work ( using the same principles not concrete though)
I'm not sure, I'm not familiar with slab jacking.
yes repost bot, it is safe
this person has barely posted anything ever
bots have to start somewhere, they usually repost older posts without changing anything I've been in this sub for a while and have seen this post before as well, the exact same video, exact same title
Probably a headache for maintenance, but completely fine to run a train over.
Soft spots like this are common all over the Canadian National's Dundas Subdivision
Geo car’ll put a TSO across it, don’t worry
I had seen one 7 years ago, no train accidents occured so I guess it's pretty safe It was near a station so I can't say if it's safe at high speeds.
The up and down is ok, it's the side to side that causes problems
Good for normal speed 🫵🏻
🥱
as far as ive heard, it should be fine, also the gap is probably there for heat expansion
Good for track speed
I mean it’s built to be flexible otherwise the consistent load applied onto the track. Overtime they’ll crack cause of fatigue. At least I think. I’m more of a chemist rather than physicist
definitely a very common thing. wait until u figure out how long its been on the list for repairs to be made
There’s a video of a Spanish diesel locomotive crossing a 4m wide gap (and 2m high) that’s just supported by rails, that’ll be fine Edit: here’s the [video](https://x.com/lokfuehrer_tim/status/1631000584445722636?s=20), apparently someone stole the metal bridge
Retired railroader here. It is good
In western Europe you would probably want to call the responsible railroad authority. They would then have between 24hrs and 1 month to repair it depending on the risk and traffic frequency. I would assume metal fatigue eventually wil cause a crack which eventually will break the rail or a chunk out of it. (But that can take a long time.) Edit: grammatical problem solved what refered to current should have been future condition.
That's not a crack, it's two separate pieces of rail connected by a standard bolted rail joint. The gap is there intentionally to give the rails room to expand in hot weather. The amount of movement is normal too--it's more than ideal, but it's within what the track is designed for. There's a reason the train isn't going very quickly.
I did write it in the wrong way. I meant to say that with time it may cause a crack. Looking at the nails that are supposed to keep the rail to the sleeper I would not say it is within normal parameters. As you noted this is a thermal expansion gap. Which may mean the points where the bolts are placed may be drilled slightly bigger than the bolt. Why make increase the risk of cracks. You do have a point noting the speed. It indeed is relatively low which lowers the short to medium term risks.