In message <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>, Jean Nathan <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes > Yesterday trains were >restricted to 60 mph instead of their usual 120 mph because of the >exceptionally hot weather making it possible that the railway lines will >buckle. > >We're having almost record temperatures -
Even more so if you believe the main commercial local radio station for the Birmingham area - on the news this morning (in the car on the way to work - we listen to Radio 4 in the house) - "trains are being delayed because the managers are afraid the tracks will melt" - I don't think it is likely to be *that* hot, though! I agree with my father, who used to lay track back in the days of thirty men to a sixty foot length - the problems are caused by the "continuous weld" type of track used, which has none of the expansion joints of the old type. Consequently, you get hot weather, and the track buckles; other stresses cause cracks and hence the derailments of the last few years. Not that there were no accidents before, but some things ask for trouble. -- Jane Partridge To unsubscribe send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] containing the line: unsubscribe lace-chat [EMAIL PROTECTED] For help, write to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
