How can a railroad hold up thousands of tons of a huge Train?

Question

You would think the track would split or break...

Answer 1

Because the weight is spread out over a bunch of different carts so its not just piled up in one spot.

Answer 2

The weight is distributed over a distance to be sure.  But, the rail itself is pretty tough stuff, with a higher than usual amount of carbon, as compared to "run of the mill" steel.

The highest concentration of carbon steel is used primarily on curves, where there is a lot of force imparted to the outside rail.  Torches have a tough time cutting through it, so it is usually cut to length with a diamond saw.

Though the rail is on top of cross ties which themselves are set on the rock ballast, and the weight of the train is distributed over a long horizontal plane, the weight of each wheel is concentrated in one spot as the equipment passes over it.

In this instance, the cross ties and ballast have a certain amount of "give" that enables them to bow slightly under each wheel to lessen the amount of force where wheel meets rail in the form of "track / train dynamics", which helps with weight distribution even further.

This can be seen the next time you see a train passing over a section of track, as it takes a "dip" as each truck (wheel set) moves over it.  Strong but flexible is the name of the game.

Answer 3

u would think...what if a train was so heavy that it fell into the ground.. thats how heavy it was..that would be weird.. they should make trains that go underground that would be kewl

Answer 4

Displacement.

Answer 5

the rails are very strong and the load isnt on one part is onver alot of wheels so a lead loco about 17 tons is displaced over 24 spots on the rails(wheels)

and about sarahs comment about underground trains its called a subway

Answer 6

1...The railroad bed is built on a very solid foundation

2....The weight is displaced (spread out)

......The railroad  "ties" (those big pieces of wood), the rocks they lay on, and the long rails add to the displacement.

.......The numerous large wheels further add to the displacement.

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Answer 7

All down to weight distribution, spread out over the length of the train, ie the weight is not all in one place

Answer 8

one piece rails are many feet long (some 200 or 300 feet and more) these rails placed on solid wooden ties (6x8 to 8x10 inch) set in a well packed gravel base allows the weight to be distributed over a large area of track preventing the problems you  mention