Friends of the Rail Forum

A bitter cold winter day has caused a rail break on the Wisconsin Central main line entering Shops Yard near the Subway Road grade crossing at North Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on December 11, 1994. can play havoc on track. This particular break is called a “pull apart,” where the rail contracted enough to shear off the track bolts at a rail joint. A kerosene-soaked rope is placed alongside the offending rail and lit, creating enough heat for the rail to expand closing up the joint, and allowing the holes to once again line up and new bolts installed. A WC trackman uses a spike maul to help loosen the warming rail on the tie plates, allowing it to slide more freely...