Can rocks and spikes derail a train?

Question

I saw some neigborhood kids goofing around on the RR tracks by putting rocks and rail spiles on the tracks. I heard a train go by so I guess it was OK, but can these derail a train. I would guess not since people are always putting stuff on these tracks and there's never been a problem (I'm actually more worried about them being hit - their parents are just happy to have them away from the house). Whats the biggest thing that you saw someone place on the rails?????? Did anything happen?

Answer 1

No, spikes cannot derail a train by being placed on the rail, but that is not where the danger lies.

When the leading wheel gets to them, they are often "squirted" out from the force of the contact.  They do so at a very high rate of speed and in so doing become lethal projectiles.

You are quite correct in assuming there is more danger of getting hit by moving equipment.

In many years of plying our railways I have seen everything from the aforementioned track material right up to a refrigerator.  Our future leaders attending Chico State University are notorious for their track side antics, and on average some idiot gets clobbered about every three or four years.  Amongst we who travel through there, this site is commonly referred to as "Little Beirut".

Can a train derail because of something on the tracks?  You betcha, but no sane person would post this information lest it gets to someone who would use the information.

Answer 2

no most  little stuff will be crushed alone by the weight of the train 100 tons or more will not stop a train

Answer 3

Almost anything can derail a train under the right circumstances including a defect in the track itself, however almost nothing will. In 29 years with the Toronto Transit Commision I only saw a few train derailments.  Causes I recall were a defective "frog" the end of a track switch and a motor falling off a train due to defective mounting bolts.  Streetcars however derail on a regular basis.  From hundreds of causes including too much sand on the rails.  Streetcars use sand dropped on the rail to incrase friction and improve stopping distance.

Answer 4

When we were kids we used to put pennies on the track to smash them out

Answer 5

I saw some1 sut a pager on the railroad tracks in cedar point, but the train came by and just kinda pushed it off.