MoW: Electric Welding of Rails

Holland developed a method of welding rail by pumping a lot of electricity across a rail joint.

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Holland-study

Holland LP posted
This year is Holland's 85th Anniversary! We'll be sharing photos / videos to celebrate our history throughout the year. Pictured below is the image used to debut the MobileWelder to railways in the March 1972 Issue of Railway Track & Structures.
Have you been a part of Holland during our 85 year history? Comment below one of your favorite memories.

Holland LP shared
Samantha Kozak shared
Alton Hall Is this the Baldwin Sharknose B-Unit?
Justin Sobeck Alton Hall - no, a Santa Fe Budd built RPO
Justin Sobeck https://www.flickr.com/photos/railphotoart/15500288868

Jean-Francois Legault posted
A "resistance welding machine ",
One of the first if not the first butt welder .

Gintas Gintas commented on Jean-Francois' post
[The other comments on this post provide interesting photos and links. Rail welding was pioneered on street-running tram tracks because the street reduced the expansion and contraction due to temperature changes. [BathTram] Welding trams started in 1897. [CatskillArchive] This article shows other equipment needed to make a good weld such as a sand blaster and a grinder. And has a detailed description of the welder. Back then, bars were added on the sides of the rail web. So it wasn't a butt weld. "The current actually used in welding operations by this new plan approximates from 25,000 to 30,000 amperes at 7 volts."]

De Craeke Luke posted
I thought Holland invented this kind of welding!

Ray Nadeau posted two photos with the comment: "Puller and welder in place ready for the weld."
[The orange thing is the welder. The yellow thing surrounding it is the puller. Since rails break when the weather turns cold due to the contraction of the steel, the puller is needed to close the gap when the tension in the rail is released. They used to put rope soaked with a petroleum product along the rails and burn it to heat the rails to cause expansion to close the gap.]

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Holland LP posted
Pictured is Holland’s first puller truck unit at our previous Chicago Heights location in the late 80's. Separate from the welder unit, they would work back to back for joint elimination work. This puller truck had a higher ton capacity of 280 tons versus our 160 ton capacity today. With our puller lite / welder combination today, this eliminates the need for two separate trucks, and giving our customers more for their money.

Dennis Lee posted 29 photos of a Progress Rail operation.