is not available, satisfactory results can be obtained
by raising the track and ties several inches off the
roadbed and starting fires underneath. Fires may
also be used to destroy bridges, roundhouses, and
structures, especially when they are of wood or of
wood and steel construction.
b. Water. Roadbeds may be severely
damaged by flooding with a sudden rush of water
from opened dams, diverted streams, or water supply
stations. Holes in the roadbed, slope failures, slides,
shifted superstructures, washouts, and undermined
bridge foundations may result just as they do from a
natural breakthrough of a dam or a flood. Water
impact is often strong enough to result in damage
that may delay repair much longer than a destroyed
strip of rails and the ties or several turnouts
demolished by explosives.
c. Mechanical. Destruction by mechanical
means consists of using cranes to over-turn tracks,
earthmoving machinery to block the right of way,
locomotives to wreck and derail equipment, and a tie
ripper to destroy both track and ties. The tie ripper,
an ingenious device perfected by the Germans, is
shown in figure 5.7. It was attached to a car and
towed by three locomotives at an approximate speed
of 10 mph. It broke each tie in the middle of the
track and dug into the ballast. The hook was
equipped with a chute from which a 2.2-pound
charge of explosive was dropped on every rail
Figure 5.6. Securing Hand Charges to
length, At a speed of 9.4 mph, and with a 20-second
Rail Web and Result Obtained.
fuse, the charge detonated against the rail 55 yards
behind the ripper.
As evidence of its
destructiveness, in one 28-mile stretch over which it traveled, 6,000 rail breaks and 2,500 broken ties were found.
121
Previous Page
