@nikc1313
As a train driver this was absolutely fascinating. Really gives me an appreciation for what the engineers do through the night when I clock off. Great video.
@JeffGeerling
I also learned recently thermite is used to form continuous copper ground bonds at broadcast tower sites! It's cool to see it in action.
@davidgriffiths827
I've been working as a metallurgist in rail manufacturing, welding, and failure analysis around the world for 40 years and this is far and away the best explanation of the thermite welding process that I have ever seen.
@Guy_Incognito118
3:55 the timing of saying "proper safety precautions" while showing a guy using a cutting torch with a cigarette in his mouth is underrated
@MegaBassThumper
I was a foreman on rail thermite crews for about 6 years, and this video is awesome! They need to start showing this video in our training classes. We get the handbook and go over what we should/shouldn't do, but gloss over a lot of 'why' we should/shouldn't do these things. It's also interesting to see the little differences in welding procedures, one I noticed was that after we shear the weld, we put an insulating jacket over the rail to slow the cooling process even further. Another is when first fitting the two halves of the mold to the rail, we hold the molds tight to the rail and grind them against eachother side to side to help get a tight seam. Not as necessary on new rail, but essential on old worn-out tracks. Looking forward to the next video!
@Chiltonization
7:45 that ash on the cigarette is amazing! Artist at work.
@Garf_Is_King
3:50 "all experiments were performed under the supervision of professionals with proper safety precautions" all while homeboy is using a torch with the ciggy still lit, God bless.
@jerryodell1168
Seeing the metal shatter reminded me of back in the 1950s and early 1960s. Dad had a lumber mill and so we and others who cut carefully selected trees. Dad would never do clear cut. As an axe was being used it hit something solid, maybe a stone (?) suddenly the head shattered like glass. Someone had sharpened and repaired it and apparently got it too hot. It probably was not the best quality adding to the problem. Scared me as a teen. Dad was always warning us forcefully not to stand in front of someone using an axe because heads fly off. We did not expect it shattering.
@Felixpotluck
I did this for about a year with terrible pay. Back breaking daily work, really makes you appreciate the things that go on behind the scenes to keep a solid infrastructure going.
@KonkaBass
I don't know why but this video, this series, has felt like what I remember the discovery channel being. That channel has stopped being like that years ago but I'm glad Derek is here to carry the torch on.
@happydays334
the correct way to start a new year!! Thank you Veritasium
@K.D.Fischer_HEPHY
This really shows the work of those every day work heroes that most likely do not get the deserved appreciation.
@xtianeskay5166
Derek, your thermite videos part 1 and now part 2 are the most detailled science videos on your channel. I mentioned it on a comment under the first video: i think Goldschmidt did an extraordinary good job on conveying not only an overview of the topic but letting all of us be part of all the technical details of thermite. They took a lot of their working time to not be productive and instead showing you all of the process. I think the videos you created from all that information make a lot of young people getting involved into technical jobs - that is awesome! And now that I hear that you have collected enough material to even create a third video I am really overwhelmed. Great job, Derek! Great job, Goldschmidt! Solche Unternehmen brauchen wir! ❤❤❤❤❤
@offshorebear
The question was "Why don't railroads need expansion joints" the answer was "we mechanically restrain them" and viola, a 27 minute video. Fine, subscribed.
@samx1555
I worked at Sydney's central station as a structural engineer during a rail shut-down weekend for maintenance. The rail technicians were doing rail welding and were kind enough to explain this whole process and mechanics. They were working under a time constraint so i didnt want to bother them. It was so cool seeing a deeper dive on this and knowing the basics of everything they taught me in a 5mins conversation.
@Corgi_Donut
2:42 railroad scoliosis 💔
@uzaiyaro
I was waiting for a train many years ago, and they had just upgraded to concrete sleepers. These need continuous welded rail, so they were doing the welds on that night. I showed interest, and they got me down off the platform onto the track, and they let me hold the torch and light one of the ceramic pots off. I’m proud to say that a main line has one of my welds.
@farzaadkhaan
I was managing a railways superstructure construction team in my country. There we made 65000 rail welds. Later I moved to Halle city in Germany were the video was made. Nowadays I am doing something else but the video meant a lot to me. I missed all my hardworking colleagues in railways industry. When you ride safely on a train please do not forget those sweaty faces.❤
@Darkknight512
The footage of the preheating with glass is fantastic.
@veritasium