Sunday 7 December 2014

Trains Could Use Lasers To Blast Leaves Off Track

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Autumn: It's a time for cool, breezy weather, pumpkin spice lattes, and the buildup of colorful tree leaves on the ground. While many enjoy the picturesque leafy exodus, there are some who don't always look forward to the yearly ritual - notably railway companies. During the fall, tree leaves drop and gather on train tracks throughout Europe and North America, which can lead to serious problems for railways.

Last month, Dutch Railways tested out their Laser Railhead Cleaner, a device that's positioned under the train just in front of the wheels and angled downward. The LRC issues a series of laser pulses, which heat the organic material in leaves and then vaporize them as the train passes overhead.

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