Railroad thermite welding near the Mississippi river

[@hillearybrown7083]

Nice job you Iowa boys did. That is hard work maintaining a line, I did a stretch from Flagstaff e 75 miles. Killed my knees but hell was a young buck back then in the early 70's. Thanks for the post

[@jackjones3001]

I did some myself in the early 90's.

[@lauhendrix8582]

Chalamandarabia

[@schlaznger8049]

#1- Do you only get one burn out of the thermite container#2- The hydraulic piece of equipment is basically " Shears"?Thanks

[@lowtech5530]

I used to do this on a high pressure natural gas pipeline. We called it cad welding. I would cad weld a corrosion test lead onto the pipe in order to take a pipe to soil reading above ground after backfilling.

[@kendrastephens1830]

Did you see that red molten iron ? those Column beams on the twin towers looked like that after 6 to 8 weeks. it was thermite that brought those buildings down not Jet Fuel / kerosene. I own a welding shop and those beams looked just like Oxygen & Acetylene torch cut those beams at an angle so that they would slide off of each other. thermite does the exact same thing as a regular torch does its just way way way HOTTER and faster.

[@dickda1]

Likely barium peroxide and aluminum dust on top ignited by the magnesium strip. This will bring the termite up to the very high heat necessary for the reaction to start

[@WICKEDGIXXERL]

It seems like a long process to use a thermite to weld but it is understood to achieve a hardened top layer and a soft inner lower part of the rail that cannot be achieved through modern-day welding

[@tommytmt]

I mean this is pretty slick, but isn’t there a better way to weld the track together?

[@booyah45828]

What's happens to the aluminum oxide during the process? I assume it doesn't become part of the weld, but I don't see how the process would separate the iron from the aluminum.

[@hawkeye-vv4kb]

With all the tracks so neatly welded, how do they accommodate for expansion and contraction of the tracks during hot and cold weather?

[@sacr3]

+hawkeye0248 tracks simply rise and lower

[@shombrerow]

+hawkeye0248 the welds swell at the same rate and because the rail is bolted into wood its able to flex with the weight of trains along with difference in temperate.

[@simonross4281]

+hawkeye0248 Not sure about the US but in the UK track like this will be stressed using hydraulic tensors to be under minimal tension/pressure as temperatures rise and fall, there are also expansion switches at set distances to allow for expansion and contraction during particularly hot or cold weather.

[@ffukamizu]

+hawkeye0248 There are various methods, one of them is by calculating the mean temperature of the area where the rail is located, and then they stress the track so that the expansion and contraction isn't too severe either case.The tracks won't even rise or lower. This method is used by the subway and local trains in my city.

[@jrry1473]

+hawkeye0248 There is a simple formula to allow for expansion and contraction of rail which takes into account the region of the U.S., the rail temperature at the time of welding, etc. Consult FRA regulations.

[@gabrielc6252]

why do they need to be welded? i thought the has some 1-2 mm gaps for the steel to expand in summer

[@alanhowitzer]

What is this for?

[@andrewsommers8298]

That press that just shears the excess material off is cool. I was expecting a grinder that rides on the rail.

[@metalbeast99]

The crucible looks like the world biggest TIG cup lol

[@ronduey4297]

Saw the R/R guys do a couple near WALTHILL NE .

[@kevlar6836]

But is it super nano thermite?

[@rcnelson]

Cheaper to just replace the rail?

[@b18citr]

Mississippi rive like west of Ottawa??

[@richardmaxwell8957]

Looks like the pot is either aluminum oxide or beryllium oxide.

[@twobighands]

Don't know that much about tracks,but it looks like the other side of the tracks is in dire need of support.Maybe i'm wrong.

[@KhanggiTanka]

+LuRcH they took the beams out because they are made of wood they gonna replace them after welding

[@twobighands]

Someone else told me that the tracks I saw were the old ones they removed so they could put in new ones.

[@benjam55]

+LuRcH The first person was correct my friend, you can see the sleepers coming towards the camera where the other section of track lies, the bit you see is too far apart to be part of the track and are just old rails put aside

[@twobighands]

Benjam55 Got it

[@tippyc2]

the rails arent supposed to touch the ground. it's the wood ties below that need to have a solid footing.

[@alanhowitzer]

Was there a fire?

[@dementedbowine8681]

why is it that sometimes they use bolts and sidebars and other times thermite to connect the rails

[@simonross4281]

+tim bum Different type of track. What's referred to in the UK as Jointed Track using fishplated joints is the older style of track with joints every 22 yards. It has the advantage of not needing stressed, but requires much more maintenance and is not suitable for higher line speeds. Welded Track is largely preferred in most countries over Jointed Track.

[@jackjones3001]

time and temp are most important. did some my self back in the day

[@harashiSAN]

looks like a fun job to do... big fires, out door,.. machines look heavy tho, that rail squeezing thing..

[@rasf7441]

As much as I don't like giving any KZbin video I watch the thumbs down, you're getting one from me for the simple reason you never showed us the finished weld. You never showed us the one thing that probably the vast majority of your viewers clicked on the video to see.

[@coldblue9mm]

RASF74 The video doesn't show the process of setting up the molds either. But that's no reason to vote it down. If you've seen one boutet weld being made, that's all you need to see. Your reason for voting this video down sucks.

[@alanmcpherson9429]

This would be the worst bit of filming I have ever seen. Try aiming the camera at the subject material, and get some instruction on how to film intelligently.

[@radioactivedragon7143]

How about you film it huh?

[@ut000bs]

Mr. Goat, I'm sure there are people, like RASF74 perhaps, who know nothing about thermite welding rails. They still don't and that is all he meant.

[@jodydavidson8436]

who do u guys work for ? I worked for bankhead for years doing this about 20 yrs ago. looks like some things have changed including a potless crucible. lol

[@jodydavidson8436]

+Scott Dolatowski ok thanks really doesnt matter. I just really enjoyed wstching you guys do blacksmithing. It sure was a hot dirty heavy n hard job. But I loved the peace n solitude of seeing places from the rails . n I loved chunking the risers n head in that water !!!

[@Wydoin]

I got to see this for myself a few weeks ago. Its definitely something to see!!

[@geoffhendrie6172]

thank you for the video i fell asleep so quickly last night !

[@Cweisslaw]

This is an amazing technology here in the US. It has been around for years in Europe and Asia. Delighted we are spending resources to advance our aging infrastructure.

[@cardboardboxification]

Well it was developed in the usa Orgo-Thermit is an American based manufacturer and supplier of Thermit® rail welding materials. Located in Manchester, New Jersey, our group has been a world leader in Thermit® welding since 1895, and a major supplier to the railroad and transit industry for Thermit® rail welding related products.

[@lohphat]

+hill billy The Thermite rail welding process was developed and patented in Germany www.goldschmidt-thermit.com/en/group/about-us/history/

[@lancemarch]

This is fkng interesting. Why is there a gap in the rail and how many times do they need to do this within say a 5 mile stretch? seems like a pain.

[@toddleshane]

+lancemarch I'm only speaking from experience with shop welding. But I believe the gap is left so that the molten material can get in between the rails, instead of just flowing over the surface. This would allow for a more complete and even bond of the two peaces.

[@matty101yttam]

+lancemarch as tlane said it improves the weld(you see them pre heating the rail ends through the gap at the start of the video, all the rail face to be welded should be a consistent heat ), the moulds on the side are also made in a factory so you usually need to make everything match, when the moulds are added to the side of the rail they are usually rubbed back and forth so that it takes the rail shape as close as possible. Not sure what the standards are in other countries but here the gap is ideally 25-30 mm but there are what we call wide gap welds which are obviously bigger. As to how many welds in 5 miles, rail usually is made into about 24m lengths for the sake of transport, if its new track then they would more than likely use a mobile flash-butt welder either as they go along or stationed somewhere close by which can keep welding the rail length to whatever is manageable. This type of welding is usually either for a small amount of welds,joining the larger lengths that have been mostly flash-butt welded or in hard to get to places like rail switch's/crossovers.

[@InsanoBinLooney]

why not use jet fuel?

[@colsoncustoms8994]

+InsanoBinLooney Because jet fuel can't melt steel beams.... haha

[@stupidman9774]

Colson Customs us gov. Says it can got proof to prove they aint lying either.

[@mattalbrecht7471]

Colson Customs - not by itself it can't. but add other combustibles like carpet, insulation around wires, ductwork, a convection effect and rushing through a small space, and the heat intensifies to the point where iron and steel becomes weak, pops rivets, and collapses under its own weight, as in the case of the world Trade Center towers. I have a degree in mechanical engineering, a 2nd in physics, and have studied metal fatigue (kind of need to know things like that when building things). also started in controlled demolition and explosives in the military, so I know what it takes to bring a building like WTC down... months and months of preparation, planning, strategic weaking of key support structures, load bearing walls, miles of det cord, not to mention very precise locations of shaped charges, etc. controlled explosives would have never been used that high in a building. not enough control. but other than those facts, nice conspiracy theory!

[@chenelson185]

nice answer ,now how the fuck they know what floor it is going to hit? ,to disguise the discharge ,he could have been 5 to 10 stories difference off the mark ,the conspiracy theorist don't have nothing ,no steel beams nothing 2 aluminum has cut steel before 1945 79 floor empire state building & cut the other side too STEEL 3 the explosion the fire man heard the sound & people heard a explosion on the Laby WAS THE COUNTERWEIGHT 10 TO 20,000 LB OR RAW steel falling down the shaft on interrupted ,what you think that shit sound like, IT CUT THE STEEL BEAMS & ELEVATOR STEEL CABLES IN 1945 and it CUT IT AGAIN / and the plane was 1/3 smaller

[@veganmikedizzle4303]

InsanoBinLooney 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@justinpleasant9811]

Good old iron powder and aluminum powder light it with magnieum or a sparker

[@nerfprate]

was one of those construction workers smoking while working with thermite?

[@ScottDolatowski]

+Levi Ackerman It takes more then a cigarette to start the thermite.

[@nerfprate]

Scott Dolatowski I am sure a flame with very fine thermite would be plenty to light a person on fire

[@alexanderbrandt9816]

It's not about how fine it is. It's about the chemical reaction that must take place. A regular flame just won't get near hot enough.

[@theatomicclap5328]

You train guys are the best what a cool job

[@dpgotz]

If this was in Brazil, there would be another 5 other workers standing around just looking at it.

[@goodshipkaraboudjan]

+Daniel Gotz Pretty much how it works here in Australia as well!

[@theravedaddy]

In the uk there would be 7 supervisors supervised by 7 managers all watching 1 worker watch porn on his phone while an automated machine did the job

[@misterbojangles6205]

He's using his shovel to heat sink it, cool it down to get to the next splice faster, then I expect the guy with the 10 lb sledge is going to knock off the form.

[@AndersonERockefeller]

The best part is the boat on the water flying by enjoying life.

[@usnva5638]

What's in the termite used for rail welding?

[@stumbling]

+USNVA en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thermite I would guess this was aluminium and lead-oxide but that's just a guess.

[@yakacm]

the word is thermite and not termite, all the experts speculating what the mix is calling it termite, a termite is a wee insect isn't it? And i doubt they would be using barium or lead oxide, as the reaction liberates elemental metal, and unless they do things differently in the States I am guessing they would be using iron oxide to weld steel rails, i don't think a rail welded with lead would last very long. A sparkler ignites thermite easily there are lots of videos on YT of ppl starting it off with a sparkler, true magnesium ribbon is more usual and works better, u can see it isn't magnesium cos magnesium burns with a very bright flame, and the thing they used wasn't bright it was all sparkly like a sparkler.

Nice work ! Always controlling the time! We use smaller hammers and slightly different cutting machine and mold holder but other than that exactly the same. :) if I ever go tout america I may have a job it seems lol keep up!

[@MaxVolumeHD]

What's the pink basin made out of?

[@ScottDolatowski]

firstnamedylan The "Pink Basin" is called a crucible The one you see is made from sand so it can be broken down after the weld and covered up with the track ballast (track stone). So the track crew does not have to hull the wasted product with them. Even know some sites still make them pick up all the waste. They have different kits for welding here is a few links for some; The one you see is this one here called a degradable welding kit. www.orgothermit.com/degradable.html Here is another kit called a single use welding kit. www.orgothermit.com/single-use.html

[@MaxVolumeHD]

Scott Dolatowski I was curious about what it was made out of because my dad and I were thinking about making a forge, and that thing seemed to be able to handle a hell of a lot of heat.

[@sinoperture]

What language are they speaking?

[@butlerreuben]

Looks like thermite "welding" is easier than mig, stick, flux welding for 12 hours a day. Wanna trade, I'll thermite "weld" and you can use the guest stinger.

[@13bravoredleg18]

I have a thermite funnel that I use for a yard planter!

[@merlemorrison482]

thermite also works good on contrary copy machines......

[@mattalbrecht7471]

so what does this do for the track?

[@mattalbrecht7471]

would think expansion and contraction of the rails during summer / winter would be an issue. we have gaps in sidewalks and highways for a reason, you'd think steel rails would be the same. i understand having high quality welds for high speed rail, but you can;t change laws of physics when it comes to expansion and contraction

[@mattalbrecht7471]

does make me wonder how the track adjusts for expansion / contraction as it gets hot and cold though. you'd think it would bow out of place.

[@blackrockftw]

+anonymous Not iron, the Thermite reaction creates Carbonized Steel. And yes it's turning two pieces of track into a single piece by reforging the steel on the spot. +Matt Albrecht They pre-stress the steel by stretching it. That way it's already expanded, another way is they heat the rails up before the hot season. There's no way to completely negate the problem that's why rail roads need maintenance.

[@ahaha731]

Where is the grinding part?

[@ahaha731]

Thank you.

[@nathanielschmitt6547]

So do you guys make the mixture or is just sent to you?

[@ScottDolatowski]

+Nathaniel Schmitt It was shipped to us as a kit. So we would pick up everything we need and pack the truck and hit the tracks!

[@WarthDader74]

That is very interesting. In the old days they used to add dried termites in the mixture to make it strong. That is why it is called "Termite welding".

[@hokiepokie333_CicadaMykHyn]

It comes from the Galactic Republic...

[@goghfitness738]

WarthDader74 huh interestinf

[@MF-ji3re]

In the early 1990 I work for Orgo-thermit in Manchester nj, at the time we made 90% of the molds in the world.

[@danebelling9526]

dumb question but what are they using to light it, is it just a normall sparkler?

[@jasoncaesar112]

Magnesium Ribbon, thermite need to be really hot to be ignited

[@benhenry1116]

dane belling yes its more reliable than a match. its also definitley hot enough.

[@theravedaddy]

Also a lot easier than trying to toss a 767 in there....

[@bradlockard905]

How in the world do you get this job?

[@bradlockard905]

Scott Dolatowski I would certainly do this if I could.

[@benhenry1116]

Brad Lockard go to a locomotive training school to start. cxt or whatever the initials are for that train company. they have a program in texas i think. after training they send you to a location thats hiring. could be any state in the us though.

[@cat637d]

Really amazing process, thanks, just subscribed!

[@MrGaryg20047]

Great Job and someone has to do it and to keep the railroad running

[@KowboyUSA]

Awesome procedure.

[@flexvision2000]

One good portable steel mill on site.

[@thewinterstyrant4192]

looks like cadwelding only bigger

[@richwhippersnapper]

It's really more of a casting process - fascinating.

[@lyndonbushnell8080]

shocking camera holding, best part & the cameras everywhere.

[@hudentdw2]

these are good man working for the benefit of the people!

[@grantbloomquist1553]

this looks like a job for clamps

[@paultroiani255]

thanks....I always wondered how it was done!

[@artides]

Drop it in the water...

[@christophertilley4297]

They didn’t show the entire process!!!

[@hokiepokie333_CicadaMykHyn]

Love that the camera man has OCD, and is still employed!

[@trxscreed]

Darth Vader as camera man?

[@pegbars]

Well, that seems exceptionally inefficient. And incomplete.

[@mattalbrecht7471]

makes me wonder. why go to the effort to improve the rail joint, when the rails are mounted on such shitty wooden ties?

[@stevang4720]

Matt Albrecht ties don't look too bad, tie gangs will come and replace ties if there is to many bad ones in certain areas.

[@aaronmorris8085]

I hear a cummins idling

[@CharisWilliams]

Great welding!

[@kamehameha1.283]

I always get a headache when the camera-man messed it up!

[@DronZizzle]

shoulda just used a cup of jet fuel

[@BigBoyPharma]

+DronZizzle We all know jet fuel can melt steel tracks :P

[@dylanwatson270]

+ahmed but it cant melt dank memes

[@rickgraham8701]

If I understand correctly the process doesn't just melt the tracks together, super hot carbon steel is created in the thermite reaction which flows into the gap welding the tracks together. Jet fuel, which is just kerosene, doesn't create steel. I don't expect it would get near hot enough to do that anyway. If it did jet engines would be hella dangerous.

[@BigBoyPharma]

+Rick Graham you dont get the joke

[@TkaXYZ]

It's a joke about 7/11

[@gabrielc6252]

that has got to be very expensive

[@lopezaguero]

Dude, What time is it?????

[@crispynugget3616]

ITS PEANUT BUTTER JELLY TIME!!!

[@kittin267]

No.

[@crispynugget3616]

Harmbe time?

[@kittin267]

No.

[@crispynugget3616]

Pizza time?

[@ericsmith8373]

I was a little bit taken aback they way that guy threw the hot pieces aside. Good way to start a brush fire.

[@McClenaghanSR]

Compare this to German train tracks at kzbin.info/www/bejne/a6bbpHmdod9ln8k. That's why their trains go 200 mph vs US at 50 mph (same as in 1879).

[@mariobastidas3102]

Swedish not german.

[@brianhaygood183]

For you TIG welders, that's a #576 tip.

[@AdamAdam-xd6cb]

how the wages ?? please tell me :)

[@ScottDolatowski]

Around $12.50 an hour is what I was getting paid as a helper. Also on some jobs it's a flat rate of $100.00 a day sun up to sun down most of the time. Now if your a welder you get a few more bucks an hour. Also at the time I got $50.00 a day for per diem.

[@yourface3154]

You can't be serious? That won't even pay rent if you live in a cheaper area....

[@yourface3154]

I'd have to assume this is Union, and paid extremely well...

[@ScottDolatowski]

Triston Charge Nope not Union, It is contracted out. They are doing more and more of that and slowly removing the Union workers that do work for the railroad it self. :(

[@yourface3154]

Scott Dolatowski Damn, what a shitty deal.

[@antonioserino5675]

Grazie

[@scolisful]

Pretty darn neat!

[@Activan1]

Молодец какой, смотрит на часы, не секундой раньше чем установлено. Это называется культура производства.

[@teddyl7006]

I feel like a caveman looking at fire for the first time. I had no idea this was done. I can hear the Forrest Gump accent going though my head. "It was like magic."

[@rationalmartian]

Nice bit o' thermite welding. But the cameraman needs more practice.

[@DaveListon]

Ummm why not just lay in a new piece of track????

[@ScottStClair-dm6vk]

That stuff will be hot as hell for weeks after!

[@JoshSmith-pg6gn]

Sure is a beautiful office that day

[@Bobshouse]

Have questions? Don't look for answers here!

[@reub3ngAs]

i need this job

[@grahampinkerton2091]

By the cringe those ties look old and split. Why not use concrete ones and, help to save the forests.

[@coreypotvin9056]

That crucible looks like every ricers dream exhaust

[@bestamerica]

' that cooool repair welding on the metal railroad track... remove all old block wooden tracks... better time to change all new cements / concretes on the tracks

[@Xardox17]

Whole lot of standing looking at watches, and we never did see the finished weld.

[@stanfoltz2339]

WTF? I wanted to see the finished weld.

[@dailylifetaste4091]

Good skill

[@chriscoleman6411]

U shoulda brought cpl burgers guys..thats one hell of a bbq

[@Luciaww]

Interesting, thanks for sharing.

[@infledermaus]

Where's Mike Rowe? Looks like a dirty job!

[@slicaltimistic1]

Now that you don't see everyday.

[@williamsquires3070]

Oh, come on! You know you want to throw that red-hot metal into yon nearby river! Pssssss....!! 😝

[@Bischlarbo69]

Oh cool! i saw the power of thermite in action once! It was a fantastic show. such a shame so many people died on 9/11, though.

[@mytec23]

smoking a cigarette while inhaling thermite fumes... i would not be able to do this job!

[@kevinolesik1500]

that's how its done

[@ac5123]

ok