Union Pacific Paints Rails White to Combat Heat and Prevent Derailments
Painting the sides of railroad rails white to reduce derailment
Union Pacific is deploying a simple yet effective strategy to keep freight moving safely during extreme heat: painting the sides of railroad rails white. This reflective coating helps reduce rail temperature, minimizing the risk of heat-induced buckling and derailments. By investing in this innovative infrastructure solution, we aim to maintain network reliability and ensure that essential goods reach their destinations on time, even as temperatures rise.
As the most fuel-efficient way to move freight over the ground, we invest approximately $10 million every day into infrastructure, equipment and technology to provide customers sustainable solutions.
- atourgates
In a somewhat related practice, some roads in the Tour de France this year have been painted with "white shit" (rider Tom Pidcock's words) in order to combat the asphalt melting in the heat, with the unfortunate side-effect that it seems to be slippery and several riders (including Tom Pidcock) crashed going around a corner when the lost traction.
Coverage here: https://velo.outsideonline.com/road/road-racing/tour-de-fran...
But of course, this was done in response to past serious crashes that occured because the asphalt melted. So, it's sort of a damned if you do damned if you dont scenario for the organizers.
- amiga386
At least they're doing something.
I couldn't believe the state of US railtrack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9X2A2f6E5DI
Just go slower! We don't want to pay for maintenance. What's the worst that could happen? You derail and your toxic payload catches fire and poisons the neighbourhood?
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/East_Palestine,_Ohio,_train_de...
- warumdarum
This of course beeing the effect of seemlessly welded together rail with nowhere to go..
- kylehotchkiss
I love a simple solution to billion dollar problems
- elric
I'm surprised that this is as effective as the numbers suggest. I would have thought steel rails would be pretty good at reflecting/radiating heat. TIL.