New Delhi: Once again, pictures and videos of the United States’ Chicago are doing rounds on social media. A recent video posted by Metra, a commuter rail system, showed flames coming out of the rail tracks.
Several other users started sharing various pics of the rail tracks in Chicago being set on fire amidst the extremely cold weather conditions.
Now you might be wondering that it must be some sort of stunt during the winters or probably a misuse of public property, though it is not. In fact, this happens to be an essential action needed to be taken due to the harsh winters in the region. Extreme cold weather can cause steel to contract, causing breaks on train tracks.
Have a look at the video:
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The crew of the rail system uses the practice of controlled fire heating of the tracks as it helps the switches to keep working and operational during the cold winds.
Have a look at the social media reactions on the matter:
When it’s very cold, #Chicago sets its train tracks on fire! This prevents train derailment caused by metal deformations!
A medieval solution to a modern problem? https://t.co/jHM0j2oJCG#physics #train #Railways #metals #Engineering #LNG pic.twitter.com/eoVldisG22
— Nemy Banthia (@nbanthia) January 28, 2022
There’s nothing like checking the @railstream camera at A2 and seeing Metra running seamlessly through this snowy weather on a Monday morning!
Beat the traffic, no matter the weather, by hopping on Metra. ? pic.twitter.com/QzPfQx3bxW
— Metra (@Metra) January 24, 2022
Brrr! Chicago Train Tracks on Fire to beat Freezing Temperatures. Train Tracks have been set on fire to keep steel from contracting and ensure trains run smoothly#Chicago #TrainTracks #Tracks #Viral #Weather #ilwx #Winter #Climate #Viral #SnowStorm #WinterStorm #Illinois pic.twitter.com/IP625aXX5K
— Doregama Viral (@DoregamaViral) January 25, 2022
