# How does this train stay on the tracks? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 20, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198 "2014-11-20T21:12:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Mrdeals](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ea666f/32.png) [@Mrdeals](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mrdeals)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 9:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/1 "2014-11-20T21:12:27Z")
I was in downtown Saint Paul, MN waiting at a stop light right next to the light rail system they have. It appeared to me that the tracks were about 2 inches wide and 2 inches deep. The tracks were buried into the road and with all of the ice, snow and salt sometimes there were almost no tracks because they were buried. But sure enough a train comes barreling down seemingly unaffected. Is the train just so heavy it plows through everything? ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/2 "2014-11-20T21:23:18Z")
> [@Mrdeals](#): > > Is the train just so heavy it plows through everything? Pretty much this. Lots of snow will stop or possibly even derail a train, but a few inches of packed snow isn’t much of an obstacle. ---
**Author:** ![scr4](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/59ef9b/32.png) [@scr4](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scr4)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/3 "2014-11-20T22:43:42Z")
Each [train wheel has a thin steel “flange”](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Train_wheel) on the inner side, which is what keeps the wheels on the tracks. As long as this flange can dig into the snow/ice, the train will stay on the tracks. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/4 "2014-11-20T23:38:51Z")
It’s only “light” rail in comparison to freight trains. ---
**Author:** ![bob\_2](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bob_2/32/3341_2.png) [@bob\_2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bob_2)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/5 "2014-11-20T23:46:32Z")
The flange is there as a last resort. What keeps the wheels on track is the taper on the rim. This also helps to compensate for the extra distance the outer wheels have to travel on a curve. Snow on the tracks reduces traction but is a real problem on points, where it gets between the moving parts and stops them from closing. For this reason, points are often heated. ---
**Author:** ![Fubaya](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/c2a13f/32.png) [@Fubaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fubaya)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 2:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/6 "2014-11-21T02:35:44Z")
Not exactly related to the question, but if you’ve never found yourself watching hours of youtube videos of trains acting as snowplows, do yourself a favor and do so now. [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvbgq2Ni2uE) ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 2:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/7 "2014-11-21T02:36:22Z")
What does “points” mean in this context? Thx. ---
**Author:** ![newme](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@newme](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/newme)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 2:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/8 "2014-11-21T02:39:06Z")
> [@BrightNShiny](#): > > What does “points” mean in this context? Thx. You may know them better as [switches.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch) ---
**Author:** ![jtur88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e9c0ed/32.png) [@jtur88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jtur88)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/9 "2014-11-21T04:58:21Z")
Amtrak doesnt run through snow, they cancel or delay trains when there is heavy snow. ---
**Author:** ![BrightNShiny](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/7bcc69/32.png) [@BrightNShiny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrightNShiny)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/10 "2014-11-21T08:37:52Z")
> [@newme](#): > > You may know them better as [switches.](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Railroad_switch) Thanks! ---
**Author:** ![TSBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/77aa72/32.png) [@TSBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TSBG)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-does-this-train-stay-on-the-tracks/705198/11 "2014-11-21T23:16:57Z")
I once saw Long Island RR tracks deliberately set on fire–not sure with what, it was a blue flame. This was during extreme cold though, not because of snow or ice–I suppose if the rails shrunk too much it could interfere with proper operation? This was about 20 years ago.