Placing a coin on a railroad track has long been a subject of curiosity, often associated with childhood mischief. This act, while seemingly innocuous, carries significant risks and is strictly illegal. This article examines the consequences of placing a coin on railroad track, detailing what happens to the coin, the dangers involved, and clarifying misconceptions about train derailment.
The Illegality and Risks of Placing a Coin on Railroad Track
The act of placing a coin on railroad track is not merely a prank; it is a serious offense. Railroad tracks are private property, and trespassing is illegal. Beyond the legal ramifications, the inherent dangers associated with live train tracks make this a high-risk activity. The forces at play when a train interacts with an object on its tracks are immense and unpredictable.
What Happens to the Coin?
When a train encounters a coin on railroad track, several outcomes are possible, dictated by the immense weight and speed of the train.
The Flattening Effect
The most common outcome for a coin on railroad track is that it will be significantly flattened. Train wheels are designed to maintain contact with the rail, exerting enormous downward pressure. A small object like a coin, when subjected to this pressure, will undergo extreme deformation. The metal of the coin is compressed and spread outwards, transforming its original shape into a thin, wide disc. The specific degree of flattening depends on the coin’s material, thickness, and the train’s speed and weight.
Projectile Potential
Once flattened, the coin does not necessarily remain stationary. The dynamic interaction between the train wheel and the rail can cause the flattened coin to be launched away from the tracks at high velocity. This projectile risk is a major safety concern, as discussed further below. The angle of impact and the speed of the train contribute to the trajectory and force with which the coin might be expelled.
Other Possibilities
- Embedding: In some instances, the coin might be partially embedded into the rail itself, particularly if the rail surface has minor imperfections or if the coin is struck at a specific angle. This is less common than flattening but can occur.
- Falling into Ballast: It is also possible for the coin to be dislodged and fall into the ballast – the crushed stone that forms the track bed – without significant flattening or becoming a projectile. This outcome is more likely if the coin is not directly in the path of the wheel or if it shifts just before impact.
- Deflection: The train’s wheels are robust and designed to deflect small objects. The coin might be simply pushed aside or off the track without being flattened, especially if it is not perfectly centered under the wheel.
Dangers and Risks Associated with a Coin on Railroad Track
The seemingly innocent act of placing a coin on railroad track carries a multitude of severe dangers, extending beyond the immediate interaction with the train.
Injury from Projectiles
One of the most immediate and critical dangers is the risk of injury from the coin itself becoming a high-speed projectile. As noted by Strasburg Rail Road, the force of a train striking a small object can propel it with tremendous velocity. A flattened coin, essentially transformed into a sharp, rapidly moving piece of metal, can cause serious injury to anyone in the vicinity. This includes the individual who placed the coin, bystanders, or even people a considerable distance away from the tracks. The unpredictable nature of the projectile’s trajectory makes this a significant hazard.
Trespassing and Legal Consequences
Railroad tracks and the surrounding property are private land. Being on railroad property without explicit permission is illegal and constitutes trespassing. Railroad companies take trespassing very seriously due to the inherent dangers and potential liabilities. Individuals caught trespassing can face fines, arrest, and even imprisonment. Beyond the legal penalties, trespassing puts individuals in a profoundly dangerous environment.
Interference with Signalling Systems
A lesser-known but critical danger of placing a coin on railroad track involves the potential for interference with the railway’s signaling system. Modern railway signaling relies on electrical circuits that run through the rails, known as track circuits. These circuits detect the presence of trains on a particular section of track. If a conductive object like a metal coin is placed across both rails, it can short-circuit the track circuit.
This short circuit can lead to several dangerous malfunctions:
- Signals to Stop: The system might falsely interpret the short circuit as a train being present, causing signals to automatically switch to “stop” for subsequent trains. This can lead to unexpected braking, delays, and potential confusion for train operators.
- Activation of Level Crossings: Similarly, a short-circuited track circuit can trigger level crossing barriers to close prematurely or remain closed unnecessarily, disrupting traffic flow and potentially causing frustration or dangerous maneuvers by motorists.
- Disruption to Train Network: Such interference can cascade through the network, causing widespread delays and operational disruptions, requiring significant resources to identify and rectify the issue. This not only wastes time and money but also compromises the safety protocols designed to prevent collisions.
Fatalities
Tragically, there have been instances where the act of interacting with railroad tracks, including placing or retrieving objects like coins, has led to fatalities. People attempting to place a coin on railroad track or retrieve it have been struck by trains. Trains are extremely heavy, fast, and cannot stop quickly. The sound of an approaching train can be deceptive, and its speed often underestimated. The risk of being hit by a train while on or near the tracks is extremely high and often fatal.
The Derailment Myth: Can a Coin Derail a Train?
A common misconception is that a coin on railroad track could cause a train to derail. This is highly unlikely and largely untrue.
Why Derailment is Improbable
As confirmed by West Texas A&M University, train derailments are typically caused by much more significant factors than a small coin. These factors include:
- Large Objects: Obstacles such as vehicles, fallen trees, or significant debris on the tracks.
- Equipment Failures: Malfunctions of the train’s wheels, axles, or braking systems.
- Track Defects: Issues with the integrity of the rails, ties, and ballast, such as broken rails, misaligned tracks, or insufficient track maintenance.
- Excessive Speed: Operating a train at speeds significantly higher than the track’s design limits.
- Switching Errors: Incorrectly set switches that guide the train onto the wrong track.
A train’s wheels are designed to withstand immense pressure and to efficiently navigate the rails. A small, thin object like a coin, even if flattened, does not possess the mass or rigidity to exert sufficient force to lift a train wheel off the rail or cause it to lose its flange guidance. The wheel will either flatten the coin, deflect it, or roll over it without significant impact on its stability.
The Physics of Derailment
Derailment requires a substantial force that overcomes the train’s stability and the wheel’s ability to stay on the rail. This typically involves a vertical or lateral force strong enough to lift the wheel or push it sideways off the rail. A coin, being so small and easily deformable, cannot generate such a force. The energy of the train is vastly superior to the resistance offered by a coin.
Conclusion
Placing a coin on railroad track is a dangerous and illegal activity. While the coin itself is unlikely to derail a train, the act poses significant risks, including the potential for severe injury from projectile debris, legal consequences of trespassing, and the critical danger of interfering with essential signaling systems. The most serious risk remains the potential for fatal accidents involving an approaching train. Railroad tracks are not playgrounds; they are active transportation arteries that demand respect and caution. Staying off and away from railroad tracks is the safest and only responsible course of action.
What to do if you drop something on train tracks?
Great question! If you drop something on the track, leave it and contact a member of staff – Every year people are killed while trespassing on the railway. Never step onto the tracks. Lines may be electrified and trains can approach at speed. If you drop something, contact a member of staff.
Why do they put coal on train tracks?
Track ballast is packed between, below, and around the ties to bear the compression load of the railroad ties, rails, and rolling stock; to stabilize and restrain lateral movement of the track; to facilitate drainage; and keep down vegetation that can compromise the integrity of the combined track structure.
What is one thing you never do on a train track?
From my experience, It’s illegal to walk on the tracks unless you’re at a designated crossing. It’s extremely dangerous (and illegal) to walk, run, or drive down the railroad tracks or even alongside them.