Why Are Rails Shaped Like That?

[@PracticalEngineeringChannel]

Love spotting infrastructure? Pre-orders are still open for Infrastructure Road Trip Bingo! store.practical.engineering/ Love not shopping for groceries? Use code PRACTICAL16 at bit.ly/3Ws1PYm for 16 free meals with HelloFresh!

[@RobThaDestroyer]

More stuff bout trains pls

[@macmurfy2jka]

I actually wish you had gone into the math on this one

[@AngmarCosplay]

Please do a video on our favorite Structural Analysis topic….Wind Loads!

[@d00mf00d]

😊

[@rogink]

I know this is not a 'history' channel, but of course we didn't start with steel or iron rails. We used the most abundant material - wood.

[@fredsalter1915]

I love the way Grady builds mock-up models to help explain what he's discussing!

[@matusfekete6503]

Long time fans know this channel is just excuse to make elaborate models.

[@woutervanr]

Agreed. It helps soooo much. Also the models he made for water flow a couple years ago. I greatly accelerates my understanding of the subject.

[@adriancooper78]

As a subway train operator, they give us the basics in the engineering on how the train moves on the rail. These are good reminders. Additionally, the detailed explanation is quite rinformative on the things we do not know about train movement.

[@billkurek5576]

Yes. I sure his models contribute greatly to the success of his channel. Thanks.

[@BS-vx8dg]

@@woutervanr I would love to see a Grady model to explain the water wedge in the Mississippi right now.

[@tlum4081]

I'm a retired 73 year old mechanical engineer (stress analysis) also with an electrical engineering degree (computer & SW). I enjoy Grady's videos of civil engineering and related subjects and learning yet more engineering I used to ignore or take for granted. Never too late to learn even more. Thanks Grady!

[@sagittariusa2201]

It's good isn't it.

[@icosthop9998]

Nice

[@jamesbudd9900]

Do you remember Budd engineering Inc. Back in the day?

[@krus0094]

I can tell you that railroad engineering is very specialized in civil engineering, they don't even use geometry in the same way as a highway engineer. A person designing roads would not consider designing rail just as a software electrical or controls engineer would not consider doing power distribution.

[@bee1707]

Our world is a better place thanks to the engineering of your generation. 🫡 form an electrical ⚡ fellow.

[@timmallette1888]

I was just in Japan and rode the bullet train and I noticed how the top of the rails was rusted over except for one tiny strip down the middle where the wheels actually contact it. Impressive precision for them to let the train go 200mph!

[@tomellis4750]

That comes at the cost of huge maintenance every night with an army of workers to keep the track perfect. How was the ride?

[@vanadot]

Thank you for probably make me staring at rails whenever I'm in a train station in the future...

[@BB-uo1qy]

@@tomellis4750 sounds like you're a trackman or know one or two

[@jonathan_60503]

Hunting, where the wheels oscillate side to side going down the track, is a real problem for high speed rail because it can amplify to the point it causes a derailment. Japan put a lot of work into their high speed train engineering to nearly eliminate hunting -- which must be what lead to the very consistent tiny wear strip you saw. Very cool.

[@tomellis4750]

No, I just watch KZbin videos. Go well.@@BB-uo1qy

[@garou5333]

As a steel worker at a rail mill this was very interesting & cool to get better insight on the workings of the stuff we make.

[@nas197]

How much do steel workers earn in the uk per hour ?

[@AVIATIONLIFE56]

idk

[@josephgaviota]

4:30 That whole wheel segment was FASCINATING. As a kid, we lived in a house that was three houses from the tracks, so I've heard all the various noises you describe since being a youth, plus the schwing-squeak-schwing sound you mentioned. And just today, 50 years later, I'm learning why. 👏👏👏

[@myriaddsystems]

I always thought it sounded like piggywiggies squealing

[@The1andOnlyWog]

My grandfather was an Engineer for Santa Fe. He started as a Fireman on the ATSF (Atchison Topeka Santa Fe) 3751, a 4-8-4 steam engine when he was 16. He eventually worked his way up the ranks to Engineer. He also went to college and got a degree in Mechanical Engineering along the way, too. That's why I am obsessed with trains. I miss him. He was an awesome guy.

[@chaomatic5328]

A quote to honor his passing: Don't be sad it stopped, be happy it happened

[@Skylancer727]

Funny I'm a certified mechanical technician and just got a job as a conductor. If all you want is to be an engineer though, some railroads hire straight up for it. That's mainly public rail though, freight cares a lot more about experience since you need to know the yards and the dispatcher instructions. Very few passenger trains are designed to be separated or cut: they usually stay as one piece long term till they go to the shop or wash stations. Obviously the whole point of freight is to pick up and set off cars, it's a lot more you need to know.

[@neildunhamii4069]

I was an electrical engineer on a project at Griffin Wheel where they make some train wheels. There is a lot that goes into each and every wheel. One of the most interesting projects I got to work on.

[@petersennello813]

Can you explain to someone not in the field why an electrical engineer would be involved in the design or manufacture of train wheels? My only guess would be for the design of electronics that control brakes but I really have no idea.

[@Taschenschieber]

@@petersennello813 Presumably because the machinery used in manufacturing basically anything is powered by electricity and a steel press doesn't work off a 230V socket. The comment doesn't read like OP was involved in the design or manufacture of train wheels itself, just a project at the factory. Train wheels do have some intersections with electrical engineering - the wheel is an electrical contact point between the vehicle and the ground, and on electrical engines in particular, a lot of current needs to go through that contact point. But that's not really something that needs a lot of involvement from an electrical engineer, I presume. Also, the brakes do not have any components that are on the wheels, at least not in any brake system I am familiar with.

[@Pufferish]

I feel like we take for granted a lot of the engineering and design work done in seemingly simple objects and tasks. Awesome vid btw!

[@Arcexey]

@Pufferish yeah I had that realization seeing someone demonstrate an old metal gas can and how literally every single part of it has a purpose so obvious yet also over our heads.

[@Krahazik]

I have had a similar realization studying ancient architecture. A lot of elements which became decorative in later decades to today, started out as practical engineering solutions to problems architect faced due to limitations in their knowledge and availability of materials and tools. Engineers, be-it ancient to modern are cleaver people.

[@Kawoaa]

Conic wheels would make the track tip on its side and cause derailment. The weight has to push down, not sideways. It only held down by track spikes. (Big nails.)

[@matthewxavier8067]

I always thought the cartoons showing train tracks go up and down like waves were just cartoons until I witnessed it in real life.

[@OutdoorLonghair]

I just realized the other day that wooden barrels are conical shaped to be able to self center while rolling on rails in the warehouses.

[@SarahWRah]

Fifty years ago my young son became a rail fan, and I developed an interest alongside of him. I'm still fascinated with the complexity of how railroads work, and the incredible cost-per-ton efficiency of the system. I know there's basic physics involved, but it's still magical to me how an engine set can get a huge freight train in motion from a dead stop. Thanks for this great video.

[@hairyhoudini5565]

There's a couple of inches of play in the coupling that links the cars together, so depending of the length of the train the engine could be several yards down the track before the last car ever moves.

[@jurjenbos228]

In the Netherlands, train wheels have "tires" (also made of steel, of course) that are replaced regularly to combat wheel wear without having to take off the wheels. I guess this is true in other places as well. The tires are slightly smaller than the wheel, and are heated before mounting so that the stress will firmly keep them put.

[@JohnADoe-pg1qk]

These "tires" (german: Radreifen) have also led to a number of small and large accidents.

[@johnstudd4245]

That was standard practice on the big driving wheels of North American steam locomotives also.

[@TheHenzen]

​@@JohnADoe-pg1qk As far as I know, because of those incidents, "Radreifen/ Bandages" are not produced to only use shrink fit anymore, instead they are now Shrink fitted and boltet to the "Rims", atleast thats the change we experienced in our newer trainmodels compared to the old models!

[@jmcortade8161]

Some french Metros have actual rubber tires.

[@ratvomit874]

​@@JohnADoe-pg1qkAhem ahem Inter-City Express Eschede crash

[@Door_Casts]

The issue about hunting behaviour is really interesting because it comes up in downhill skateboarding as well where they refer to it as "speed wobble" and have some interesting ways of combatting it

[@longiusaescius2537]

Do you skate?

[@DasGanon]

Makes sense! I mean I've always heard of the skateboard axle also called a truck!

[@carterjanssen265]

The secret is putting your weight over the front trucks, and a little prayer

[@pyropulseIXXI]

@@carterjanssen265and crouching down

[@pyropulseIXXI]

Speed wobble also occurs on motorcycles, so I’m not sure it’s from the same phenomena. It isn’t happening because the wheels have different diameters; the oscillation happens because the trucks can ‘pivot,’ and the speed can get you locked in an oscillation, even with flat wheels. Flat wheels should greatly dampen the effect, though. Or, rather, non-flat wheels amplify the effect

[@MsCriticalthinker201]

There are three items about the rails that need to be mentioned. First, the rails are not flat on top. The apparent flat surface is actually a gentle radius. Previously it was a 10" radius, new rails are now manufactured with an 8" radius across the head. This, in conjunction with the second item, called cant, keeps the wheel contact patch centered on the rail head. Cant is induced by the tie plates that support the rails. The plates are flat on the bottom where they bear on the crossties, but the seat that supports the rails is slightly tilted to the inside at a 40:1 pitch. This tips the railheads inward about 1/8" each from a true 90 degree angle to the crosstie. Third is superelevation. Raising the outside rail to bank the track slightly in curves. In track designed for really high speed running the difference in elevation between the inner and outer rail is as much as 6". This effect also helps the tapered wheel treads self center at speed and keeps the flanges from dragging on the high rail. Excess superelevation where trains are not running fast enough to use it is a disadvantage. Now the low rail receives excess weight and wear. In fact trains can actually tip over at a stop if they are carrying top heavy loads. Another interesting item is, that despite their huge imposing appearance, the center of mass of a locomotive is actually only about 5' to 6' above the railheads, which are set at standard gauge, 56-1/2" measured 5/8" down the railhead. This gauge dimension puts the webs of the rails at just about 5' even, which varies only slightly depending on which size rail is being used. All the really heavy parts are down low.

[@heathwirt8919]

Very interesting.

[@FeelingLikeThatNow]

I was thinking they may also introduce some slight banking to help equalize the distance the wheels travel as well. Thanks for the detailed comment!

[@Avidav]

How u kno so much train stuff?

[@thomasa5619]

Most I’ve personally seen is 5” of cant/superelevation At that point hydraulic oil started to leak out the breather on the equipment i worked with, and we couldn’t unload spoil because of tilting protection

[@johnsmith1474]

@@Avidav - How are you functionally illiterate?

[@jeffloveless6536]

I have operated locomotives at the power plant I work at. Even after 15 years of driving them, fixing rails and doing inspections I learned more watching your video than I learned in 15 years. I look forward to seeing your next video.

[@jamesdoyle5405]

I am a retired locomotive mechanic. Wheel measurements are so important, if the flange gets too low the car or engine can derail in a curve. Flanges that get too narrow can "pick" a switch and send a wheel set down the wrong track. Locomotive have flange lube sticks that lubricate the flange to slow wear. The other important measurement is diameter which needs to be close side to side. Really enjoyed this video explaining rail loads and design.

[@KalebPeters99]

What a masterclass in detailed and efficient science communication! Your script-writing is off the charts to pack so much into 15 minutes without it feeling overwhelming. The delightful animations and physical models make it so digestible, even for a total newcomer. You're the best, Grady! 🙏✨

[@giangkim8789]

ok

[@KalebPeters99]

@@Forakus well simplification is obviously necessary for this task, but could you give any examples of him being "entirely wrong"?

[@ArchangelExile]

Ok

[@hannahranga]

Speaking of wheel rail interfaces one of the more unusual faults I've seen was caused by a loco having a slightly different contact patch to the normal EMU that ran on that track. Because it wasn't touching the narrow unrusted part of the rail head the rust was acting as an insulator and preventing activating it the track circuit's consistently.

[@johnopalko5223]

I'll bet _that_ was an adventure to figure out.

[@Landogarner83]

Thats a nasty and potentially dangerous one. (if electric) If the loco has bad electrical contact to the rails then it is going to have some voltage compared to ground. Meaning if someone wants to get on or off the loco he may be in for a shock.

[@Taschenschieber]

A train not reliably activating track circuits isn't "potentially dangerous" if electric, it is definitely dangerous regardless of mode of traction because there is a pretty significant risk of another train entering the occupied section and then a collision. There was a case in Mainz a few years back where a train just dropped off the track circuit because the driver had used sand while breaking, and the train then essentially stood on the sand. Another train was then cleared to enter that section. IIRC there was no collision because the other train was entering at a low speed and the driver could stop in time after seeing the standing train. That's just more evidence that axle counters are superior.

[@jaelwyn]

@@Taschenschieber The best answer is almost certainly "both" - and if they disagree, everything stops until it gets sorted out. Like most proper fail-safe systems.

[@Woodsy3211]

I'm a Signalling Engineer, the problem of poor electrical contact in the wheel-rail interface is at the forefront of our minds for safe Signalling practices. Particular attention is paid when performing re-railling activities where the new rail is potentially rusty. I've even heard of a case where millions of millipedes have caused a train to disappear on a track circuit. Axle Counters certainly are a great way of eliminating this. They have their own challenges though.

[@JustRickToday]

@Practical Engineering I'm a train driver in the Netherlands, and it's very nice knowing a bit more about why and how rails wear out. Large part of the grinding on wheels and tracks also seems to come from slipping wheels when the track and wheels can't produce enough friction. And when trying to stay on schedule, you sometimes need to let the front wheelsets slip a bit but keep the power on for the rear/middle motors. Slipping season as I like to call it is coming up, autumn always brings leaves and leaves, well, we all know what leaves do to trains and schedules.

[@ppdan]

If you slip a lot with older material that still uses series motors ... the maintenance technicians will hate your guts for burning those motors.

[@everettrailfan]

Are leaves really that much of an issue? Over here in the Pacific Northwest we always get lots of wet leaves on the rails in the fall but it almost never produces any issues. Maybe because our trains are just bigger and heavier in general than European ones?

[@stephenallman2484]

​@everettrailfan they can be a issue. It can cause wheel spin which damages the rails. I can't say much about the Pacific Northwest but in the UK we have many passenger trains that stop and start fairly frequently due to the amount of stations and the proximity to one another. The leaves increase the stoping distance. We have RHTT (rail head treatment trains) which blast the head of the rail with high pressure water. Also some test being done using lasers. If you knew all that sorry for wasting your time. Also the species of plant the leaves came off can make it worse.

[@everettrailfan]

@@stephenallman2484 I just realized something too, we primarily have evergreen trees, so we don't have quite as many leaves to deal with, and here on the Sounder North line there is a total of 4 stations so really not a lot of stopping and starting. The real issue here is the threat of landslides in certain places and snow/ice up on the summit of Stevens Pass to the east, which dwarfs anything leaves could do.

[@BloodyMobile]

I think one of the factors why trains are so impressive in general is, where else do you see something with the weight of a house move with speeds up to or even above the speed of cars on highways?

[@bearcatracing007]

Every time I see A380 fly!

[@Soupy_loopy]

Yeah, trains weigh a lot more than a house. It's amazing how efficient they are at moving extremely heavy loads.

[@SlartiMarvinbartfast]

@@bearcatracing007 A380's fly on highways???

[@azrobbins01]

@@SlartiMarvinbartfast The highways of the sky

[@Sonny_McMacsson]

High speed jet ferries. They weigh way more than a house. I don't see it often but others do.

[@drzman6901]

One of my most interesting experiences learning about trains was when I was touring England and stopped in at the National Train Museum in York. Wow! Just wow! I was so lucky to find a volunteer that really knew his stuff and was willing to spend an hour with me. We started with a longitudinal section of a real steam engine, and he explained how these trains were powered. When he got into the engineering behind the power transmission to the wheels, my jaw hit the floor. If you think it's appropriate, please consider covering these topics. There is some fantastic engineering involved. Better yet, go to York. Find a great volunteer and give us video tour of the museum. 🙂

[@blendpinexus1416]

that sinusoidal swaying you described is really nice. it's like a gentle rocking when trying to get some rest on a long train ride.

[@BarredCoast0]

I'm really looking forward to more in this series. We railfans are always looking for more answers to unknown aspects of railway engineering. Thanks Grady!

[@azrobbins01]

What is the main draw to locomotives? There are so many train fans out there, so surely someone can tell me. Is it just because they are so large and strong? I think they are cool as well, but I am not obsessed with them like a LOT of other people. Are train fans also fans of mining equipment to the same degree? Why or why not?

[@willisverynice]

To be fair, if you are a fan of trains, you probably knew all this already.

[@azrobbins01]

@@willisverynice Thinking trains are cool is not even close to the obsession that some people have with them. Everyone thinks trains are cool, right?

[@martinkominek6712]

@@azrobbins01 Throughout the history it took a lot of development and it is nice piece of machinery. From horse drawn to hundreds of miles per hour.

[@azrobbins01]

@@martinkominek6712 Very true. So you think most of the fascination comes from their history, and not as much from what they have become today?

[@Reavenk]

A bunch of rapid-fire, concise, and intuitive examples that build up a story of constant innovation. Love it!

[@markmuir7338]

Kudos to the excellent animations in this video - they made wear progression immediately understandable. That's pretty hard to do in textbooks.

[@bryanbush7139]

Great video! I have been a railroad designer for about 7 years now and am always excited to see great railroad content. It’s an interesting industry that often gets taken for granted. Looking forward to the rest of the series!

[@Bassotronics]

This video is all that is needed on KZbin for explaining train wheels. It’s awesome! Too many misleading videos on KZbin.

[@DMLand]

Love how they hit upon a quite modern profile as early as 1788, then kept evolving the track cross-section to the profile we see today. I wonder how the evolution of wheel profiles drove track profile evolution?

[@LeCharles07]

It's safe to say it had a rather marring effect.

[@LeCharles07]

Get it?

[@nickwallette6201]

Kind of looks like there were two, or maybe three, competing schools of thought, and the predominant shape alternated between them a few times. I wonder if we'll see a resurgence of some other shape, or if we've been able to calculate the ideal shape now, and it's just down to squeezing out the last few percentage points of efficiency and resilience.

[@StarryCactus]

Never even occurred to me that the wheels must be conical but now that I know it I don't know how I ever thought otherwise. Absolutely ingenious.

[@itsmebatman]

It is fascinating how much engineering went into something that looks so simple.

[@danhtranquoc3745]

ok

[@itwontcomeout5678]

@@danhtranquoc3745ok

[@josephgaviota]

_It is fascinating how much engineering went into something that looks so simple._ I think that's true of a lot of things. When you watch anyone perform a task that they're really good at, it just looks so easy. I have come to the conclusion that the easier something looks, the more effort went into making/doing it.

[@PeteMcCrea]

Looking forward to the next videos in this series! I spent a couple of years working in Switch and Crossing Renewals in the UK between 2001-2004 and loved the time. The team I was involved in laid some of the first new CEN60 S&C (Switch and Crossing or ‘Points’) in the UK. These are built up from 60kg/m ‘CEN60’ flat bottom rail as opposed to the older 113lb/yard (51kg/yard?) and 110lb rail to give improved resilience and service life. In some parts of the rail network there was older bullhead rail that had been in service for close on 80 years and still had some life left in it…

[@JeffBourke]

As a steel designer, I love going to the old underground stations in Sydney and seeing all the old steelworks. Like going back in time!

[@BobDiaz123]

In my train club, where our equipment is 1/8 the size of the real thing, we started using free spinning wheels on passenger cars. Thus the left and right wheels can turn at different speeds. We have less issues with friction and everything seems to last longer.

[@chrisallen2005]

You are comparing apples to oranges when you compare your toys to the reality of shipping product of immense weight and still making a profit.

[@BobDiaz123]

@@chrisallen2005 Actually with the engineering of things, models are a good reflection of the real world and are used to predict how the full sized item will act.

[@ef-tee]

@@BobDiaz123the problem is that you lose the "self-centering" behavior, since the effective diameter of the wheels doesn't matter anymore once the wheels can spin at different speeds

[@BobDiaz123]

@@ef-tee One would expect the flanges to wear out sooner with the free wheeling system. However, this system was tested on a layout in Oregon for several years and they have not reported this issue. I'm not exactly what force is involved here, but there must be something that helps to keep the wheels centered on the track.

[@Skylancer727]

Main issues I see are wear. Like he said in the video, most trains have solid axel because of the forces at hand. One of the big pain points for rail is the bearings failing and to make free wheels we're either talking distributing less force from the bearing making it be the weight taking part like a car, or having two of them. And remember that with a car or a model you can hear when a bearing fails, you can't hear something a mile back and the yards are too slow to hear it there. That's why they need detectors. It could work with passenger which tend to be lighter, but definitely not for freight.

[@thegriffadillo9762]

I'm an industrial engineer who has recently started in the rail industry so this series is perfect! (even if I only work on the simulation side)

[@revjohnlee]

I was an avid model railroader so I knew some of this as a kid. I learned most, but not all, of the rest as an undergrad in C.E. You provided a bit more knowledge but, more importantly, you did an EXCELLENT job illustrating the principles. I remember a prof glossing over them and having to read about them in the textbook. On the rare occasions in the decades since, explaining what you explained in the video made people's eyes glaze over like they were listening to one of my Ash Wednesday sermons. (After a few years of practice, I went to seminary) You illustrated the concepts visually, simply and interestingly. Great job!

[@timecowx]

My great grandfather had a piece of rail that he used on occasion when he needed something to serve as an anvil, which is a pretty common practice. I held onto that piece, keeping in in the shed or garage for years until I finally had a use for it. It was a rail that had obviously seen a lot of use in its day and since my use was would be better served by a nice flat surface, I took it to a shop to have it machined flat. The machinist said he had done a few before and he would just do it that afternoon and I could pick it up the next day. I was fortunate that he was stubborn (and kind) because when I went to pick it up he only charged me $20. I say stubborn because he said he broke three bits on it, and only managed to slightly improve the top of the rail. According to him he kept trying because he had never had trouble with one before, but he thought it had something to do with the age of my rail and it having seen a lot of use in its time on a track, compressing and hardening it over time. Now I'm wondering if it was one of the harder rail segments you mentioned they use on turns, though I don't know how long they have done that, nor do I know the age of my rail, so hard to know for sure. I just thought it was interesting (if true) that rails might harden as well as wear, over time.

[@Ice-Fall]

I have a 6" rail, 12" long. A friend with a mill flat topped that rail. Great anvil! I also have 40" of 8" rail. If yours is 8", then I believe it is the harder steel, than that of a 6" rail.

[@goodoldcarburetors5592]

He has such a comfortable voice to listen to. I love winding down with his videos at the end of the day

[@DavidSellars-b8l]

There also is the "tilt" of the rail added by the tie plates so the cone face of the wheel and the face of the rail are approximately parallel. At least on older wheels, with which I am most familiar, the wheels are of a double conical design. Also, the radius of the flange is somewhat progressive so the flange seldom actually contacts the side of the rail. While seemingly small, the rail and wheel each compress somewhat while in contact producing a "wave" in the rail. This has been a limiting factor in the maximum weights of railcars. Another interesting factor historically is that the common steam locomotive with rods jump up and down on the rails imparting a pounding motion that requires more material in the rail head.

[@naamadossantossilva4736]

So that is why diesel locomotives were a big deal.

[@hedgehog3180]

@@naamadossantossilva4736 That wasn't actually the big advantage of diesel locomotives. Their big advantage was that instead of having big driving wheels, where their size was essentially your final gear, they could power all of their wheels through a gear train. This gave them much better tractive effort, ie. the ability to actually impart energy from the motor onto the track to move the train, this gave them an easier time getting heavy cargo trains moving and accelerating in general. This was actually a big enough problem on steam locomotives that they were often fitted with iron "tires", basically a big iron band around the wheel, to increase friction with the rails. Beyond that there were also all the regular advantages of internal combustion over steam, not having to carry around heavy coal and water and not having to regularly stock up on water, and being somewhat easier to fit an electric generator to. Though initially diesel locomotives did have a somewhat harder time breaking because they didn't weigh as much and weren't as good at compressing air.

[@DavidSellars-b8l]

@@naamadossantossilva4736It was one part of the equation. Geared steam locomotives, principally the Lima Shay, the Heisler, and the Climax were an answer to the pounding while also adding pulling power and flexibility for rough and light track. Steam engines can be balanced for one specific RPM while locomotives operate at a large range of speeds.

[@dracrichards5785]

I was literally thinking about the shape of the wheels on a train like 4 or 5 days ago. This is hilarious. You just confirmed my suspicion that the wheels are connical to compensate for the curves in the track. Thanks for this video Grady!!

[@TerminusVox]

Finally a video about trains that explains why what we are seeing is important and why so many find them interesting!

[@1978lburick]

Regarding wear on wheels and rails, on some curves you'll find grease pots to lube the wheels going into a curve. But some if not all locomotives dispense flange lube oil when needed (so no need to maintain the pots anymore). And for traction after a dead stop, they spray sand into the V where the wheel meets the rail. There are large sand boxes on locomotives front and rear. You'll see the sand nozzles at the leading and trailing wheels on each "truck". There is a Wabtec (previously General Electric)locomotive manufacturing plant in Texas, I would love you to take a tour (DFW area I think).

[@jamesknapp64]

Thanks!

[@MalloonTarka]

I've always noticed the sinusoidal movement when riding trains. I always assumed it was from sideways momentum acquired when going round bends that was sustained through the suspension. The fact it's actually from the wheel profile is so cool!

[@daveash9572]

You might be interested to learn that there was a now abandoned type of rail called Barlow Rail which was used for the West Cornwall railway, and much of the railway lines in south wales. It was different to pretty much any other type of rail system, as the rail was flared in such a way that it was designed to be laid directly onto ballast stone, without the need for sleepers.

[@Skylancer727]

I think we can see why they went away then. Even today one thing you want to avoid is hitting something between the rails and it snagging a hose.

[@ilovetotri23]

I am not really a train enthusiast, however, there is no denying their importance. I love the engineering side of everything! This was probably my favorite episode on this channel. I has no idea how much thought went into rail travel. All we ever hear about are the derailments, and lack of oversight! Thanks for an awesome video!

[@carlthor91]

Grady, you showed all of the pictures of wheels on rails, ON tie plates (angled tie plates), but no mention of the importance of the tie plates in reducing wheel wear, or it's assistance in helping the wheels on corners. I worked on the railway, in the 70's, before working as a diesel mechanic then surveying. I am a retired mine planner/surveyor, originally trained, in the late 80's, by a retired railway surveyor. Best wishes from the far North.

[@joesomebody3365]

Great video, I didn't know about the somewhat conical wheels on trains before; the demonstration you did with the model was very helpful. Thanks.

[@MikeV8652]

As a transportation historian, I've always been amazed that the railway (locomotive-hauled trains offering scheduled transportation of passengers and freight on flanged wheels and iron rails) existed about 50 years before the "safety bicycle" (two wheels of similar size with a chain drive and so arranged that the rider's feet could touch the ground).

[@MattHobbie]

I am one of those guys that doesn't mind waiting at a railroad crossing. I love the vibration of those huge diesel engines! The raw power is mesmerizing to me. Love your focus on the railroad lately!

[@Yojibby]

I’m excited for your next deep dive on the engineering of airports! There’s a ton of interesting engineering that goes on when building airports, even small ones with no commercial service.

[@TheIrishBosnian]

I don't even study engineering of any sort but its fun to watch. Its entertainment. I'm a "How It's Made" TV show guy.

[@naamadossantossilva4736]

Yeah,the special porous concrete they use to prevent crashes is amazing.

[@johnopalko5223]

@@naamadossantossilva4736 You mean EMAS? I remember when they first came up with that. It was revolutionary. It's not used where you have room for a full-sized RSA.

[@hkr667]

EMAS is my favorite feature, but it feels like airport design in some ways is just in its infancy. I love the plane specific taxi route lights too.

[@DryBones111]

I could watch a 20-minute video on the engineering of runway lights.

[@paulpinecone2464]

Two thoughts that I imagine have been considered: - What is the effect of the sideways bending in the web? Is there an advantage in making the inside rail of a curve of a different flexibility than the outside? - With modern forging techniques I imagine it is possible to vary the material properties across the profile of a single rail, or even mix materials in layers. How could that affect behavior? I am put in mind of sword construction where a harder steel is used at the leading edge or multiple layers allow for flexibility.

[@carlmclelland7624]

A VERY interesting video. I'm a (long since) retired deputy sheriff and traffic accident reconstructionist on my department's major accident investigation team. One of the first questions I always asked when teaching accident investigation, "IF a train has solid axles, HOW does it turn corners?" You answered that question in this video... quite well, actually. The one thing you didn't touch on, and maybe you do in a subsequent video, is HOW do you start a train turning? Of course, that answer is super-elevation of the tracks to overcome (or initiate) gyroscopic precession. By lowering the inside or raising the outside track, the precession starts the train turning in the direction of the turn. GOD, I love this stuff. Thanks for producing this video!!! Carl, Washoe Co. Sheriff's Office, Reno, NV, Traffic Section, MAIT (retired).

[@pkonneker]

Woah. Seeing the features of train wheels and knowing all the reasons behind it is like two different worlds. This was really fun

[@fiddley]

Here in London, they've just opened the Elizabeth Line which also has a bunch of brand new rolling stock. I swear every time I'm on the new section of rail in a new train it feels like a flying carpet. Accelerating up to speed with just a whistle, and a ride that is smooth as butter. Just boggles the mind how they can get 1000 tonnes of steel on steel interacting like that.

[@rejames4136]

H 2:48 2:49 2:51 lol this

[@rejames4136]

Mm mmm

[@beboboymann3823]

Awesome report. I’ve been a rail fan all my life but your report shows that I am a locomotive fan with practically no knowledge of the rails themselves. Good job!

[@bc-guy852]

Well said! There's a lot more to it, (apparently) than the big noisy part at the front!

[@DanielE-ww5ui]

Great video. There is so much to add on curves and the different designs balancing degrees and elevation and rate of spirals going in and out of curves. After a 2 degree curve, there is wheel slipping and this is dealt with by adding greasers at the beginning of curves to help reduce rail/wheel wear. This is where the train wheel flange hits a little button (fixed on rail) at the beginning of curve and in turn spits a small amount of grease on rail/wheel location. It's a common game of fine tuning elevation even to this date to help control rail wear. Speed and elevation can help reduce wheel/rail wear. You can even see and sometimes hear it when going through a curve where the lead wheels on a set of fixed trucks is tight to the flange and the trailing wheel flange are tight to the opposite rail. The truck twisting causes allot of wear on both wheels and rail, which causes more on going maintenance. The maintenance would consist of re-profiling the rail head by a special machine called a rail grinder, and replacing the rail which is usually the high side due to flange wear, and sometimes parts of the low side due to shelling. You can't change the degree of the curve (for the most part on existing built track) , but the elevation and rate of the elevation is fine tuned on an ongoing bases to this date.

[@martinfarfsing5995]

I came back and reviewed your video after 5 months, you explain better why train wheels are conical and self correct on train track turns . Other blogs are confusing, yours is perfect .Thanks

[@justinblin]

Waking up to Practical Engineering is pretty cool 🔥

[@TRAVISGOLDIE]

I thought I’d find this boring but as always Grady elevates and expresses so well it’s taught me something new😊

[@PreservationEnthusiast]

*Brady

[@Highraven]

Just wanted you to know my family are so thankful for all your videos. Always highly educational and entertaining! Not easy to do both well!

[@KenFullman]

As someone that finds engineering a fascinating topic, I already knew pretty much everything presented in this video. The only reason I clicked was because I saw it was one of Grady's productions. I didn't learn as much from this one as others you've produced but, you never fail to keep the subject matter interesting. Great content as usual. I never get bored watching the practical Engineering channel.

[@TxMxMxMxM]

Growing up, we used to say trains are held by powerful magnets in the railway track. Approximately 20 years later (01/12/2024) I had to test this while taking a walk next to a railway track. I felt like my little self waiting to see what would happen to my compass while a train was passing even with my Engineering degree.

[@CjqNslXUcM]

Awesome video, awesome topic. I'm not a train guy in real life but I do have tons of respect for the scientists and engineers involved. The fact that trains, which still operate in the same basic manner as they have 200 years ago, have been unmatched in terms of speed, capacity and energy efficiency for overland transport is astounding.

[@trottermalone379]

My grandfather was an electrician at Superior Steel in Benton Harbor, MI where they once turned pig iron into railroad rolling stock. It is unimaginable how much heat and force goes into the creation of axles, wheels and tires that are designed to roll hundreds of thousands of miles without issue.

[@jaydunbar7538]

I’d guess a higher number, rubber tires on a semi can last half a million miles if properly cared for.

[@trottermalone379]

It would be informative to get real numbers, but I’m not a member of that society… I’m sure you are correct, that wheels and axles roll for many millions of miles (I would guess 10’s of millions and decades of service) with only periodic lubrication. But the tires have a much more abusive duty cycle. Even “straight” rail is not sufficiently straight to preclude the need for some slipping. I am going to try and dig up an answer and will let you know if I come with anything meaningful.@@jaydunbar7538

[@sadgeman4589]

Engineering and the math behind is so freaking cool. Grady does a great job explaining it, as usual

[@drewnelson2376]

Just got started as an engineer in the railroad interesting, really love this series so far!!

[@connelly6375]

Retired railroad engineer here, did rail for 40 years, stint in aviation before that for 22 years, but that was all after by 15 years in the army, before my stent at NASA. Really appreciate your videos, brings me back to Nam...

[@Sandrawest64]

I always enjoy Grady's videos, but this one was really intriguing. I found myself saying, "Wow! I had no idea it was so complicated, but it totally makes sense!" More, please!

[@siobhangraham7280]

That's the thing that I love about trains - they're a perfect example of human engineering, including the constant strive to optimize. Fascinating machines that have changed so much since their inception.

[@crackedemerald4930]

Trains rights

[@hedgehog3180]

They're basically the result of trying to build a transportation system optimized for energy efficiency, which makes the physics, maths, and engineering parts of my brain really happy.

[@zachpw]

The bit about the wheel going different speeds throughout the contact patch was really interesting. I suppose that probably applies to wheels on every vehicle, since they deform under weight and won't be perfectly parallel to the riding surface.

[@Ornithopter470]

At least with pneumatic wheels, they're "effectively parallel", as the tires deform to the road surface. So if the road surface is flat, the wheels should be parallel.

[@zachpw]

@@Ornithopter470 Hmm that's a good point. On the other hand, since a tire deforms so much, the contact area is going to be quite large, so I wonder if the edges of the contact patch might experience differences in speed beyond what the rubber stretch is able to account for. Doesn't the tire wear down purely because each point of surface doesn't perfectly match the speed of the road?

[@nickdumas2495]

@@Ornithopter470 The contact patch zachpw is talking about is within a single wheel, and the differences across the axle are handled by the differential. When your wheels are rubber instead of steel, they're going to deform for a relatively huge contact area. The different speeds across the contact patch don't need to cause slip, because the tire can compress so there's a different density instead. Rather than slipping faster to get the wheel around, it can simply pass more rubber at once through the slow zone as it compresses before contact.

[@bc-guy852]

@@stevexracer4309 NOT TRUE. As a Caterpillar guy I can assure you that ALL roads do NOT have a crown in the middle. Yes - roads have profiles, largely to deal with the elimination of water but the high point - the crown as you describe it - is NOT always in the middle. It changes as roads curve and if one direction is higher than the other.

[@Timoohz]

@@zachpw On car tyres, the contact patch is relatively flat tyre touching a relatively flat road, so there is not much grinding. The rubber has to deform to grip the asphalt but as it is flexible it bounces back. On rail wheel, it's not flat. In an exaggerated example, both 1 foot diameter and a 2 foot diameter part of the train wheel touch the rail at the same time.

[@fridaycaliforniaa236]

The most amazing thing to me is that you can make *any* subject become really interesting. This channel is gold

[@jimroby2k]

Lifelong rail fan learned a ton about wheel and track from two of your videos today. Thanks for making applied science so interesting! I’m now subscribed to your videos. I wish this stuff was available in an accessible format like this 60 years ago, it would have changed my career path, and lit a fire under me in high school and college.

[@phishbone421]

Grady, every one of your videos make my brain so happy. At least once every lesson, a huge light bulb goes off over me and i feel incredibly refreshed learning about something i’ve never considered. Thank you so much for what you offer!!!

[@user-uz1yv2oc9v]

I'm happy to see a video about railways from your channel, you have a great way of explaining things and I've had an interest in trains for a long time so it's nice to get an easy to understand video on the topic.

[@jonswinfield9336]

This is really interesting because most documentaries deal with such basics Understanding engineering in all areas of life is fascinating and it’s always changing This is already shaping up to be a great series There are endless opportunities to cover when looking at railways

[@flauschibusi3205]

As a Train Driver myself I knew about this, but it is so refreshing to hear it as simple and understandable as you told us. I really love that there is so much in my job that makes a huge difference for everyone riding my train and still a lot of people just don't see all of this engineering going into all of this.

[@stevefirst9521]

Having just taken a cross country trip by rail, I find this all facinating. What amazes me is how all the switches are set correctly to route trains to the correct places safely. Please consider a video series on train controlling and switching.

[@j.electric]

Babe wake up! Practical Engineering posted 🥵

[@Very_Grumpy_Cat]

I can be your babe 😘

[@eruilluvitar]

I'm up, I'm up!!

[@joerionis5902]

well that's fast

[@elcocoreyes]

Exactly my reaction when i see a new post

[@djtruth8425]

Same tho!!

[@lc3]

This is fascinating! I had no idea so much engineering went into the wheel and rail shapes.

[@SynchroSk8]

So interesting to think that innovation continues to happen in rail, its not something you think about in everyday life, but it makes sense to innovate, especially on the truck wheels. I work in the light rail construction industry and have a few rail pieces on my desk, people are always in shock at how heavy those small pieces of rail are. Loving this series!

[@oladeleolayinka1233]

Nice

[@flamingfrancis]

You are very lucky you worked on light rails (around 38 pounds per yard) and not with those like overhead crane tracks which can be over 135 pounds per yard.

[@RobertLacey-m4g]

It made my day to see you trackside with your kid. I did the same all the time with my dad, and do it now with my own kids. I love your channel - keep them coming!

[@xyvernthederg5760]

fun fact, old railway tracks are so compressed down by the weight of all the trains they have carried that they can make good anvils

[@simonm1447]

That's right, they are a cheap replacement for an anvil. I used one before I got a big, old anvil from my grandfather, which may be from the 19th century (the anvil, not the grandfather ;-)

[@BostonClipper]

The Web does more than elevate the rail. Like an I-beam, the height has a strength function to distribute the moment load across more ties reducing the need for a larger foot. Increasing the web height would reduce the required foot size.

[@johnsmith1474]

Ah, no. There is no "strength function to distribute the moment load across more ties" ie the height has no effect on the load below it. And why would it?

[@BostonClipper]

The cross-section of the railroad rail is two dimensions. The rail exists in three dimensions. The load of a moving train in the third dimension creates a dynamic uniform load along the tracks. The best way I can explain it is a hypothetical example. If instead the normal wood tie spacing {19"} consider if that spacing was multiplied by ten times or more {190" or more}. The foot of the rail would be increased proportionately to carry the new load but if the height stays the same...the rail would fail.

[@davidkantor7978]

It seems to me, that the web supports the load between ties. Between ties, there is no support; the rail just has empty space below it. The web provides the strength needed to resist collapse over that span. Between the ties, the rail is a bridge. The web assumes strength in that bridge.

[@davidkantor7978]

… assures strength…

[@HammondOfTexas0]

I'm hoping one of the videos mentions rail grinding, which is how they restore the shape of the rails. The train they use to do it is quite impressive, but I've never seen anything explaining how they work.

[@samuelnelson140]

I operated rail grinders for over 10 years, then became a supervisor. Every railroad has a specific 'profile' for their tracks that matches their wheel profile. You basically remove a small amount of rail so the profiles match. Rail grinding can extend the life of a rail by removing minor defects and detecting internal rail problems. Was a good job. But a lot of stress

[@Dreyno]

@@samuelnelson140The same as polishing the frets on a guitar. You remove as little metal as possible to re-profile the top surface and extend the usable life of it despite removing metal to do so.

[@CreepSoldier]

Having in mind your videos about soil compacting, would be cool to see one related to rail, how they prep it for tracks and trains, and the differences between ones for high speed rail, cargo, metro, etc

[@MsCriticalthinker201]

There's basically three types of rail in use today. The rail section you see in Grady's video is called Tee rail, the regular classic shaped rails in almost all railroad track. Next is Girder rail. Used by streetcars, it is very similar to Tee rail in how the wheel rides on the rail, but has a 'U' shaped flange projecting to the inside to provide a pocket for the flanges to run in and keep the asphalt or other road surface materials away from the gauge face of the rail. Last is Crane rail. Very heavy duty with a very broad head and a short fat web. It is designed , obviously, for gantry cranes and other similar applications. Wheels used by the cranes to roll on this type of rail are typically double flanged, one flange on the gauge side (inner) , one on the field side (outer). These rails are almost always laid dead straight and often quite far apart from each other, 20 or 30' or better vs regular railroading standard gauge of 56-1/2"

[@alastairvize7052]

That was just wonderful; lucid explanation pitched at exactly the right level for the interested layman. Great stuff - thank you.

[@optimusmaximus9646]

I never knew this! What a brilliant solution to an old problem which circumvents the need for having differentials on all those axles.

[@jenniferbutcher8393]

For the win! Thank you for explaining this, i love railroads and often wondered about how the rails and wheels worked. Would love to see an exploration into crossings and sidings-frogs, diamonds and the like. Also with that wish list would be how and why of rail grinding and how those MOW machines work!

[@kentslocum]

As both a railfan and an AFOL (Adult Fan of LEGO), I was recently fascinated by the fact that LEGO redesigned the wheel trucks for their trains, and now the wheels are no longer connected to one another via a metal axle. This means that the wheels on the outside of a curve can rotate at a different speed than the wheels on the inside of a curve, without slippage. While this would not work in real life (due to the loads imposed by heavy freight cars), it is cool that LEGO is taking these considerations into account for plastic toys.

[@seymoarsalvage]

More train content? I'm here for it!

[@sorakojootti2725]

Choo Choo!

[@Lilly-Lilac]

Love your pfp btw!

[@hairypaulmm7wab195]

Nicely done Grady. On curved track the track gauge is slightly wider than on straight sections of track, the additional distance between the rails differs depending on the curvature of the track. When the rails are canted on a curve there are extra calculations to set the track gauge correctly for each specific curve. The permanent way is also much more complex than is obvious to the eye, the ballast layer is only one of many layers that provide the foundation for the sleepers and rails. I'm sure You could do an entire video just on the design, construction and upkeep of the permanent way. I am an retired railway engineer who worked in many fields over my lifetime including ; P-WAY permanent way, S&T signalling & Telegraphy, TCD Traction Current Distribution including overhead catenary and third rail systems in the UK. Always interesting to see differences and similarities in infrastructure between countries. Keep up the great work Sir. Thank You.

[@Martin42944]

#25 on trending, that’s AMAZING!! Congrats!!!

[@Santibag]

From what I learned, trains are one of the most common autistic interests. I was a train fan since 1-2yo, myself. I believe I had no idea on the capabilities of trains, at that time. So, it's something more than understanding them that makes them interesting. Of course, learning more about train only adds to the amazement. I personally have - rotating object interest - alignment interest - smooth movement interest etc. that make trains very interesting. For example, a train entering a passenger platform feels extremely satisfying. That smooth approach of that huge object, the alignment of doors and the platform, the contact of catanery and pantograph... So many things. I can count so many...

[@pootispiker2866]

This is the most Twitter thing I've read lmao

[@John_Krone]

Such an interesting topic. Now I have a deeper appreciation for trains and rails. Thanks

[@EwingTaiwan]

6:52 You said the "Out side diameter is 6mm less than the inside diameter" but the graphics actually shows a 6mm less for its RADIUS, that is **12 mm** difference between outside and inside diameter. Great video still!

[@nick_riviera]

Even as a Railroad engineer I learned something today! Great video Grady!

[@RailRider9571]

I’m a railfan, and I found your videos and I learned a lot, thank you for posting. Now I can be MORE of a train nerd

[@jayski9410]

As a kid who lived near railroad tracks, we "played" with the contact patch between the wheels and rails. The train that went thru our neighborhood had to come to a complete stop before crossing an old bridge over the Hudson River. At that moment we'd place coins and other objects under the wheels to see if would flatten or crush them. It resulted in some cool oval shaped coins but mostly crushed and destroyed everything else. Yes I know this was very dangerous behavior but kids in the 1950's & 60's took a lot more risks than children do today. We didn't have video games, we had to seek our entertainment outside in the real world.

[@kkfoto]

Coins become nice big ovals, and nails become neat little swords. I still play with that from time to time 😅

[@j_taylor]

I was surprised how dang hot a coin is just after the train has passed!

[@FTW23-qq8nb]

@@kkfoto Maybe that inspired the coin to souvineer stamp machines.

[@philip_fletcher]

Traditionally coopered barrels (beer, whiskey etc) are a similar profile to rail wheels for the same reason - they were moved on rails within the processing plant. I suspect the barrel profile predates (and was borrowed by) railways - might be worth investigating.

[@landscapingspecialist]

A geometric differential! Wow I never knew any of this! So interesting

[@freedom2speak1]

Although I'm not a rail fan I am an engineering fan so this was still super interesting. I'm excited for the new series!