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As freight and passengers travel vast distances every day by rail, propane keeps the trains a-rollin’. Railroads are designed to endure harsh environments, but certain conditions pose logistical and safety challenges. Railroad switches, mechanical points that guide trains from one track to another, are especially vulnerable to ice and snow buildup. To prevent freezing, the railroad industry relies on propane-powered heaters and has done so for decades. Because of propane’s reliability, efficiency, and performance in cold weather conditions, these heaters protect the backbone of global logistics whenever and wherever they’re needed.
Railway and Railroad Switches
Railroad switches have served as the primary mechanism for directing railway traffic since the tracks were made of wood during the industry’s earliest days. As a train passes over a switch, point blades embedded in the railway will allow the train to continue riding its straight track or shift to a diverging track. These switches are simple and inexpensive, which led to their widespread adoption across the globe. Large metropolitan stations and junction yards, where many different tracks intersect, will have hundreds of switches to direct their intense volume of traffic.
When snow accumulates or freezing conditions arise, switches cannot move. In industry, this is known as “out of correspondence,” meaning a train needs to move in a certain direction but can’t because the obstructed switch won’t permit it. A single stalled train has reverberating consequences for all other timetables reliant on the same line. Frozen switches can cause delays, cancellations, safety hazards, and in worse case scenarios, collisions or derailment. Before the widespread availability of electricity, railway companies relied on kerosene lamps or manual labor to clear away snow and ice.
Railroad Switch Heaters
Railway employees clearing snow and ice from switches manually is labor-intensive and high-risk work. In some remote regions of the world, manual labor is still used, but most railways now rely on heaters to keep switches clear and operational. Even though railroad switches come in many different sizes and configurations, these heaters can be broadly categorized into two main energy sources: electric heaters and gas heaters, which typically run on natural gas or propane.
Electric switch heaters first saw major use in the 1940s. They mostly rely on transferring heat into the rail through plates or tubes directly fastened to the rails. Early models of these heaters drew so much power to reach their requisite temperatures in cold weather that they would retain too much heat and cause structural damage to the tracks or ignite nearby trash and leaves, causing track fires. If the flames came into contact with creosote-treated railroad ties, the flames would become toxic and incapable of self-extinguishing. Despite improvements in their electrical and thermal efficiency, electric rod heaters are still inefficient and ineffective compared to propane-powered heaters.
Hot air blowers are now the most common method of switch heating because they can reach high enough temperatures to melt snow and ice without risking damage or fires. By circulating hot air around railroad switches, the ice and snow is melted while also dispersing the added moisture, mitigating additional ice buildup. While hot air blowers can be electric, propane is preferred because of its versatility and thermal performance. Gas-fired hot air blowers reach melting temperatures far quicker than electric ones. Propane is especially advantageous for switches in remote areas because it can be stored in high-capacity tanks, doesn’t degrade over time, and isn’t dependent on utilities, which often fail in inclement weather.
In especially cold areas where moisture freezes rapidly, propane-powered direct flame heaters ensure switches remain free of buildup. These open flames are small and tightly controlled, meaning they effectively melt ice without damaging equipment or igniting nearby material. Both propane-powered heaters start immediately, even in freezing conditions, whereas electric cannot, adding to its inefficiencies and environmental impact.
Recent advancements in switch heating technology have also significantly enhanced propane’s effectiveness and reliability. Some systems are now equipped with self-starting snow detection features that automatically activate heaters when snow or ice begins to accumulate. In addition, many systems now offer remote monitoring capabilities, allowing operators to track and adjust them from a distance, providing greater operational control and reducing the need for manual labor.
Whether in the remote stretches of rural tracks or bustling metropolitan rail yards, propane-powered switch heaters ensure trains run on time.
