Valley City in Barnes County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

Sun Kink Rail

Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 2022

1. Sun Kink Rail Marker

Inscription.
Rails, regardless of weight, have to conform to the laws of physics. All rails will contract in severe cold, and expand in summer heat. With prolonged heat, rails can buckle into an "S"-shaped curve called a sun kink. Mild sun kinks may shrink back into place as the day cools, and rail is merely trimmed or "subtracted" to keep the over-expansion from happening again. Frigidly cold periods can contract rails, pulling them apart and breaking connections. Flammable material encased in plastic, called a “fire snake,” is then placed next to the rail and lit to expand the rail back into place. Trained staff tend rails during periods of extreme temperatures to prevent accident or delay.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 46° 55.418′ N, 98° 0.369′ W. Marker is in Valley City, North Dakota, in Barnes County. Marker can be reached from West Main Street (Business U.S. 10/52) 0.1 miles west of Central Avenue North (County Highway 21), on the right when traveling west. The marker is located on the Rosebud Visitor Center grounds. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 250 West Main Street, Valley City ND 58072, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 136 Lb. Rail (here, next to this marker); 90 Lb. Rail (here, next

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to this marker); Building the Railroad (here, next to this marker); 66 Lb. Rail (here, next to this marker); Rail Lines (here, next to this marker); Wood Beam (here, next to this marker); Valley City Street & Interurban Railroad (a few steps from this marker); Rosebud Visitor Center Along the Byway (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Valley City.

Related markers. Click here for a list of markers that are related to this marker. Rosebud Visitor Center Railroad History Exhibit

Also see . . .
1. Buckling: Rail tracks (Wikipedia). Excerpt:

Rail tracks expand when heated, and can fail by buckling, a phenomenon called sun kink. It is more common for rails to move laterally, often pulling the underlying ties (sleepers) along.

(Submitted on March 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

2. What is Sun Kink in the Rails?. Excerpt:

A sun kink is a buckle in a railroad track that can be caused by extremely hot weather,
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, August 27, 2022

2. Sun Kink Rail Marker
potentially leading to a derailment. Sun kinks are a relatively common issue in the rail transportation industry, causing an average of 50 derailments per year over 40 years. This amounts to more than 2,100 train derailments in the United States alone due to sun kinks, and as a result, they are considered one of the most prevalent issues that railway operators must contend with.

(Submitted on March 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 11, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 10, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 45 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 11, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.