When the weather turns cold, the track has alot of strain put on it with the contracting steel. Many joints can come apart, as is the case here at MP 269.9 on the CN Dubuque Sub. The 1st real cold snap of 2016 has CN section forces putting many joints back together between Waterloo and Dubuque. Here the crew works on a 3 inch pull apart. Ropes are burned to heat the rail, so the rail will expand, then the joint can be put back together. Cold weather finds all the weak spots in the railroad. Photo: taken on CN property, by CN employee. When the weather turns cold, the track has alot of strain put on it with the contracting steel. Many joints can come apart, as is the case here at MP 269.9 on the CN Dubuque Sub. The 1st real cold snap of 2016 has CN section forces putting many joints back together between Waterloo and Dubuque. Here the crew works on a 3 inch pull apart. Ropes are burned to heat the rail, so the rail will expand, then the joint can be put back together. Cold weather finds all the weak spots in the railroad. Photo: taken on CN property, by CN employee. Original Post
