Railroad Thermite Welding

Thermite welding demonstration of two rail joints at a museum. Thermite is a mixture of iron(III) oxide and aluminium granulate, which reacts exothermically above the ignition temperature. Temperatures of more than 2000°C can be reached.
More informations on Thermite: en.wikipedia.o...
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[@dfolt]

For me as a frequent rail traveller in Germany, this has been most interesting! Thank you for uploading.

[@lohphat]

Europeans have the coolest backyard parties. “The Welding of the Rail” is an old favorite, usually when the host runs out of beer.

[@jimmorgan8688]

lohphat A classic! 🍺

[@grandwaha]

Unst Velding party bring beers uns schnitzel!

[@RackwitzG]

Yeah, and we grill our Bratwurst directly on the thermite bucket.

[@FILTHYHERMAN]

Bloody good show!🙏

[@RejectedYouth98]

last summer we did this, it was a great evening for the whole family. The thermite roasted Bratwurst mit Senf im Brötchen was more than delicious!

[@kylehooper2981]

THAT WAS AWESOME! I have only ever heard about this being done by the old timers. I never thought I would ever be able to see it done! Thank you so much!

[@Rekowagen]

In case anyone wonders: This was a demonstration at the Hannover Tramway Museum at Wehmingen near Hannover in September 2017.

[@Hawkeye0918]

Ah okay makes sense now. Was wondering why all the high techniness of welding rails together but still using wooden ties.

[@gewizz2]

nobody likes a smartass

[@BlackMeowgic]

@@gewizz2 that was so unnecessary

[@jonb5817]

In Alabama?

[@ChrisEffpunkt]

@@BlackMeowgic like Rekowagens comment.

[@paulwoloschuk1]

In 1970, I worked for a company in the UK; Murex Limited, who developed the Thermit welding process together with a German company; Elektro-Thermit GmbH. At the time, there was widespread rail replacements being carried out in the UK, and the Thermit welding process enabled sections of the rail to be welded in situ. I worked in their analytical laboratory in Essex, and one of my jobs was to check that the constituents of the mixture was correct. I remember that we were given a demonstration (similar to this) on how the process worked - pretty spectacular! The process is still used, not only for railway lines, but for welding other large items, such as ship anchors.

[@slackjaw703]

That was one of the coolest things I’ve seen in quite a while. I had no idea that was ever done to begin with. Great stuff.

[@jamesji8574]

man these RC machinery construction videos are getting impressive!

[@doctorreno9439]

Gentlemen. I love to see Professionals at work. This is as exciting as anything I've seen for some time. Thank you.

[@Tokatt]

this was oddly satisfying to watch

[@benfordrin6978]

I'm working at the depo station in Stuttgart, Germany and never saw this before, so I was really shocked when I saw flames and something on fire on the other side of the station in the middle of the night. I was close to call the fire department when I got the info "Keep cool, they're just busy with rail-welding" :D

[@MAN394631]

Was für ein Aufwand für eine Schweißnaht, da schaffst du ja gerade mal 20 Stück am Tag, aber schön anzuschauen war es allemal, danke für's Einstellen.

[@rich3371]

God they got a freaking tool for everything

[@Engineer9736]

Richie Mann They build thousands of km of railroad using this method. So the process has to be perfect and quick.

[@YR7A]

Germans. nuff said

[@YR7A]

using termite to weld it removes the possibility to have an air pocket inside the weld, and its just faster

[@lumpyfishgravy]

Yes. No need for heroics - work smarter not harder.

[@grendelum]

757WN - think of how much heat a railroad track can absorb !! It’d take days to pump enough heat into the system to weld it whereas here, you dump a *_massive_* amount of heat into it *_fast_* so the thermal mass of the track doesn’t have time to sink it away !!

[@alt9741]

Thermite welding is awesome, what a great process. We made a thermite reaction in high school, I can still see the molten iron dripping out the bottom of a terra-cotta pot in my mind, even though it was nearly 30 years ago and I never bore of watching this!

[@MsMesem]

Al t You mean you did and learnt real stuff at high school? Wonderful

[@vinayharshavardana1033]

Al t

[@Engineer9736]

The molten iron was dripping into your mind? That’s not good!

[@michaelzehrfeld7766]

Danke fürs zeigen...hatte ich so noch nie gesehen!

[@MarylandConstructionDiecast]

Nice video. Cool to see the process.

[@romelquizhpe3890]

Maryland Construction Diecast v😈😈 😇🐑🎒🎒😇😴👠👢

[@1269babylon]

I agree impressive :)

[@CX190_PROOF]

Ikr

[@RogerBarraud]

After half an hour perhaps...

[@jamesdupuis4821]

I have to say that the crew really knows what they are doing even if they are not talking to each other

[@ipodguy7869]

I don't remember clicking on this video. I don't know how I got here. It showed up as one of my tabs

[@HD1080ide]

KZbin Autoplay? 😀 I have already made the same experience.

[@georgetpeppel2900]

I think it's because you're an idiot

[@jameswick4181]

how the fuck did i get here

[@kiwitrainguy]

You should control your computer rather than it controlling you.

[@larrykh465]

It's another thermite related conspiracy!

[@deusexaethera]

Wow, that's way more involved and time-consuming than I thought it was. But considering rails can be in-service for decades, I suppose it's a relatively tiny amount of effort for the added benefit of having a smoother rail.

[@EvoPortal]

Not just smoother but safer.

[@ChrisEffpunkt]

@@EvoPortal when done wrong this method has the potential to be far more destructive so I wouldnt plainly call it "safer". Ever heard of thermal expansion? Imagine a km long rail expanding. those things need to be calculated and thought of in advance otherwise you'd have rails bending all over the place in summer.

[@EvoPortal]

@@ChrisEffpunkt You are incorrect. Statistics prove you very VERY wrong.

[@Unimedien]

Interessante Technik und ein wirklich interessantes Video. Toll, dass du das Aufnehmen konntest. Daumen hoch. Gruß Unimedien.

[@sarvman]

Well now THAT was cool as ever. Love how things get done.

[@geevarghesevarghese737]

Jesus friends world

[@thewatcher611]

All BNSF track, throughout the U.S., is welded together this way. It is monitored for breaks constantly this way. A continuous track is essential for the speed and weight of the trains traveling on it. This is also how the signal lights are controlled. The same may be for other train companies.

[@vinayharshavardana1033]

jmax7733 b up

[@joeybags7411]

10 feet of track complete. Well done fellas. Just 1100 miles more to go

[@j-man6001]

Danke dafür! Mein Urgroßvater hat an der Eisenbahn gearbeitet.

[@iannickCZ]

Did I just watched 7 minutes of rail welding???

[@kiwitrainguy]

No, your clock must be wrong.

[@Engineer9736]

What is wrong with watching thermite welding? It’s a whole lot more educational than watching Spongebob.

[@gewizz2]

yes, this is the way most males spend our lives. I suppose it all comes down to have given up on hope of finding women.

[@melchristian3638]

iannickCZ Yes

[@feelsokayman3959]

When you realize how much time you waste on stupid random bullshit you won't ask yourself this question anymore. And at the end of the day it doesn't fucking matter what you do/watch. Variety and randomness make life a lot less borinh. As Forrest Gump once wonderfully said: "Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get." Wait, did I just spend several minutes answering a random comment on a rail welding video? Oh well.....

[@common-man7378]

Great video....& resolution. Learned a lot about the process of thermal welding.... Thank you for your effort to post and share....

[@ShipsYouShouldKnow]

Das sind klasse Aufnahmen, sehr interessant anzuschauen. Daumen hoch dafür!

[@zorro08vloggar92]

Carsten Travels te

[@ahmedabed4806]

Carsten Travels گعپچکhehbsbubeh

[@TonVerkleijT3]

Wie hoch?

[@vincentcirrito8502]

What are you saying?

[@TonVerkleijT3]

Wie hoch = how high. Daumen hoch = thumbs up, Just asked how high they put their thumbs up.

[@stadtindianerhoho6243]

,ich danke sehr für die Vorführung das war echt interessant !

[@wph2102]

....und alles so genau erklärt! Toll.

[@oldbaldfatman2766]

Oct. 30, 2018---Thanks for an interesting video, but wonder how long in real time did this take vs the shortened viewing time.

[@alexboyes3275]

Wow, I can finally weld my railway, thanks guys

[@st0n3p0ny]

No idea how I got here, but that was great.

[@insylem]

All that for 1 joint. Each joint 33 feet apart. For 150 miles. With two rails. "Ok guys, only 47, 999 more to go. "

[@exoplanetling]

Hab das gerade in chemie. Danke fuer das video

[@ZiitsprungMedia]

.. das war jetzt mal echt interessant anzusehen! Danke! :-)

[@kevomorider6254]

Mit Abstand die spektakulärste reperaturarbeit an Gleisen

[@ole633]

Schienen werden immer geschweißt oder durch Laschen/Iso Stöße verbunden. Ob Neubau oder schienenwechsel.

[@edwardmieczkowski5689]

Kevo Moride

[@inselvideo]

Interessante Technik, auf jeden Fall eine heiße Angelegenheit. Daumen hoch fürs zeigen! Gruss inselvideo!

[@limaloma9711]

inselvideo i

[@nickthebubble4060]

It seems a bit long winded for one joint.

[@wwindsunrain]

Fascinating. What is the material around the iron? Is it a clay cast? Also, does the weld now consist of cast iron or are adjuncts in the thermite to produce a sort of steel?

[@arnokilianski7889]

Cool, but it leaves one question unanswered: How and where do welded railways allow for thermal expansion and contraction?

[@muttBunch]

Strongest joint I’m sure but wow does it take a long time to do one. I couldn’t imagine having to do miles of it. Makes me want to look up how they did it in the old days

[@junowatt5802]

Modern rail tracks are not done that way, just a demonstration from when it was.

[@mikyap02grunt_M2G]

Schönes Video👍✌ von denn Dewind D4 🗽NewYork Tobi🗽 ich bin immer überall dabei weil jedes Video interessant ist!

[@zzpazi]

They're building a tramway in my city, I was lucky enough to see this happen live this summer.

[@cosmic_parallax]

i have no clue what i just watched but it def was worth it

[@austins.3313]

That hydraulic rail scraper slag chopper is sweet

[@joewoodchuck3824]

More involved and critical than I ever thought. I'm surprised the ties didn't burn.

[@johninnc9893]

Imagine how interesting this would be if there was a narrative of everything that's involved.

[@adriandeb2710]

Great video, so interesting, thanks for sharing

[@JonesNate]

This seems extremely tedious for what you get from it. Does it have a better lifespan than if you just used an arc welder?

[@HD1080ide]

I don't know the answer but puddle arc welding seems to be more common for crane rails.

[@hasanfoyejul5500]

i love tools & this kind of work. thanks

[@stephanwittner8011]

schönes video gibts die schnallenschuhe nicht mehr ?? hätte die zw noch entfernt aber sonst klasse wie im lehrbuch lol

[@stenkaden1229]

0:32 Wenn ich meinen Traktor vorglühe... (when I warm up my tractor...)xD

[@jayphilipwilliams]

Fascinating!

[@m_l_hill]

Does the aluminium oxide by-product effect the strength of the weld in any way? Or does it form some sort of slag that floats to the top of the weld?

[@MrLuridan]

They've got some cool tools.

[@rredhawk]

Looks like so much more work than the old way, with bolts and plates, but I'm sure this type of joint is much more solid and needs much less maintenance.

[@uprrslo]

They make it look so easy.

[@NeglectedField]

Think how many miles they have to do this for. I wonder if there's a more streamlined process when they do it for real or if it genuinely takes that long...

[@Phoenixspin]

Where are the termites?

[@gubocci]

what termites

[@joelaxume2066]

jajaja

[@DavidMartin-nz8yt]

No, they are welding, not cutting the railroad, but I did think the same.

[@ST-actual]

Lol thermite

[@104silvae]

Lmao

[@oldsimsonstylemopedsfursle8314]

Zauberwerk Toll!@@! Sonnenaufgänge sehe ich auch wo anderst !

[@anthonyxuereb792]

What we don't know is how long the rails are that they are welding because rails are welded at the shop in great lengths and then railed to be laid. I'm sure we're not talking short length rails here.

[@nichts_als_die_Wahrheit]

Sehr interessant sowas mal zu sehen.

[@matthewdenty7760]

Amazing demonstration but in a real weld the slag has to be left longer to allow a slower cool down

[@damon2692]

Wow, never knew termites where flameable :/

[@Red_Salmond]

lol, its a chemical called Thermite not the ants...

[@leahall]

Yes that is true. That is why the British government refuses all fire ant passport applications.

[@LoganBarto]

It is thermite

[@kudakoda]

Gus at my local welding shop said "I use termites on my steel projects but I don't have any luck with them on any of my wood projects."

[@davecrupel2817]

:|

[@ole633]

Sieht nachts noch besser aus. Glaubt mir! In der Praxis wird auch besser geschliffen :D

[@schneider.mariane]

War das hier nur in der Theorie? Sorry, ich konnte nicht anders. ^^

[@CritterFritter]

German tradesmen have a hammer for every occasion lol!

[@HexlGaming]

Thermit ist schon was schönes..

[@derdummi8130]

hexlgaming Jup definitiv

[@BobABooey.]

Pretty short train line.

[@gewizz2]

it was for a miniature railway set

[@KlunkerRider]

It's a very small museum ;)

[@stevegodwin6416]

People are smaller in Europe.

[@mindheist8344]

That would be the "express" rail line

[@Lee-70ish]

We used to use the over flow slag to boil our cast iron kettle for a brew up while waiting for the setting time

[@themagicboy6548]

That's a lot of specialty equipment

[@betocabrer3239]

Que nivel por favor!!! Excelente y felicitaciones por el video

[@not_a_therapist]

0:31 *VTEC kicked in, Yo!*

[@Drache191200]

Nicolas Boswell Ahaha 😂😂

[@SantaFe19484]

Nice video! Where did this take place? It looks like European trucks in the background.

[@jevgenkova]

Germany

[@markmarsh27]

TOTALLY FASCINATING! ... I walk my dogs along the railway tracks in Toronto and many times I've walked along the rail trying to find a seam but NOTHING! .... FINALLY I KNOW WHY! .... (....thanks for that AND for showing us EXACTLY how the Israelis imploded the WTC Towers on 9/11).

[@patrickeh696]

Escaped insane asylum patient alert (Mark Marsh)

[@rahulmahato-dme2982]

Wow... Excellent

[@ChiefRobber]

Супер! Так много операций,и все так аккуратно! Жаль что в России ,так никогда не будут делать!

[@ВладимирДергач-я1ю]

В россии так уже больше 10 лет делают)

[@furdeutschland-clubxl2434]

Hut ab! Die können was!!

[@joshualowe7179]

How is this process cost effective??? Just my thoughts....

[@mbr5742]

Old style stuff - work was cheap

[@MASmeinezeit]

Cooles Video. Echt interessant. Ich muss nur zugeben das ich kompletter Laie bin und keine Ahnung was da passiert^^ oder wieso man hier Thermitscheißen verwendet anstatt anderer Verfahren. Wenn jemand hier eine Erklärung hat was in dem Video wieso passiert wäre das echt klasse. Danke schonmal für das Video an sich :)

[@DanielTorres-ee4pl]

Hello Welcome, don’t worry your not alone, all of us are here also don’t know how we got here or why we are watching this. Yes none of us searched for this either but here we are

[@teekyriffle]

who in the world would waste that much time joining a rail line? just weld it by hand lol..

[@alexabadi7458]

Very nice video ! Aluminothermy, I learned that at school when I was a kid ! :o)

[@antr7493]

Did they just bolt the rails together before this or bring a portable welder out?

[@bubbaschannel1610]

Did thermite welding to ground wires welding in a electrical substation once. Pretty cool.

[@josephineledford351]

I know this makes a strong connection for the rails but it seems like it would take much longer than just using normal spikes if they were doing a large section

[@thematey3592]

I believe this is for high speed rail where there is very little margin for flexing......

[@tz8785]

It might take longer but creates a smoother ride as there are no gaps between the rails.

[@zoesdada8923]

Spikes are for holding track in place not connecting track together. No amount of spikes would stand up to the weight and stress of a train passing over multiple times a day. All track is welded using thermite the last I checked. I have been welding for fifteen years and I tried to get on doing this for the rail roads but you have to know someone.

[@shalala4571]

Zinan Watts Trains suck in America aswell. In the US anyways.

[@maximorlov8208]

The same thermite was used to take down WTC.

[@planetina1145]

Long work hard work, nice video.

[@octaviusdelmonte9019]

Wow, those are almost like the thermite box cutters they used in the world trade center attacks.

[@nicaskey1]

Yes - the very same, the Thermite cutters used on all three buildings were set upright around all the main support columns to create a sloped cut, the military developed thermite was ignited with demo fuses.

[@djgto7050]

Wow how welding has changed, now you could weld that in 10 minutes or less, neat to watch*****

[@Engineer9736]

DJ GTO Thermite welding is still the standard today in railroad building. Just because it is easy and quick.

[@larrykh465]

also as long as the rails are aligned properly gap doesn't matter and from what I hear when it comes to rail repair over time that can be a big problem. Wish they would let us play with that stuff in the shipyard.

[@grendelum]

DJ GTO - good luck welding this... look at the size of a railroad track, you would spend a week pumping heat into it to get near welding temps as it’s thermal mass would sink it away no problem. With this method, you’re dumping a *_massive_* amount of heat into the system too fast for it to sink away !!

[@groggers]

So would they do this on every single joint? Seems like a long repetitive process for a whole railway

[@derelbangler3328]

Hi , wurde die Aktion an der Göltzschtalbrücke vorgeführt ? Ist das Gebäude im Hintergrund nicht Ketzels Mühle ? LG Maik

[@Rekowagen]

Das war im Hannoverschen Straßenbahn-Museum, www.tram-museum.de, bei einer Veranstaltung, dem Entdeckertag der Region Hannover.

[@libertariantranslator1929]

There is welded rail in North Austin. A machine the size of a locomotive grabs and lifts the ties, fluffs the gravel and reseats the ties level as you please.

[@ladygardener100]

now when there were fishplates there were expansion joint, where have they gone?

[@adriatic123]

What is this used for. Repairing broken tracks or?

[@HD1080ide]

For example. But this method is also used for new tracks.

[@chriskozlik858]

Very cool. The work is just a little bit different than someone getting paid to type on a computer all day.......

[@pan_czerwony5437]

Chris Kozlik These who work like that wouldnt have any job if not people who click buttons on a keyboard

[@Garman_Humble]

how much I work for nothing ... when he realizes that the track is disconnected from the railway track, he will be very long bad :D

[@WupperVideo]

Wirklich sehr interessant anzuschauen.

[@michaelmaas5544]

A little commentary would have been nice.

[@mikecheeseman97]

Looks nest however I wish someone explains what they are actually doing don't understand what the yellow buzzing machine us I assumed it was a x-ray checking outcome the weld has penetrated.

[@dylanstewart5580]

So maybe this is just me but why don’t they just tig or mig weld it? A rig truck and a couple welders has to be fast than this right?

[@dylanstewart5580]

Is this even welding?

[@HD1080ide]

You can't weld a rail joint with a normal welder. The steel is too thick-walled.

[@Mumblix]

That's really neat, but isn't there a faster way to do this?

[@HD1080ide]

No. You can use a rail joint welding machine. But it is expensive, heavy(!) and not really faster.

[@hbecker123]

Ich habe eine Frage: muss ich eigentlich auch eine UV-Schutzbrille tragen wenn ich vorm TV sitze und per Bildschirm ins Licht schaue?