Did You Know Chicago Really Sets its Train Tracks on Fire?
It's been said that you learn something new every day. I guess this is that thing for me and maybe for you. Did you know that Chicago really does set its train tracks on fire sometimes? It's true and I can explain why if you don't already know.
I saw this fun conversation on the Illinois sub-Reddit page about why Chicago is lighting its tracks on fire. I had never heard of this, but I don't get out of the house much. It's very much a weather-related thing which is why the fire is necessary with the super-cold weather common to the Windy City this time of year.
Since I'm always suspicious of making decisions or trusting information that's only on Reddit, I did some searching and saw ABC 7 out of Chicago who documented the train track fire method last winter. They state that there is a right and wrong way to do it and the Chicago Transit has some science about exactly what part of the track is...lit.
To state the obvious, the Chicago trains are a vital movement mechanism for Windy City travelers so keeping them active and running is crucial. So, next time you're fortunate enough (*sarcasm*) to have to travel to Chicago during the winter months and you see train tracks on fire, that's a plan and no need to panic. It's just the transportation people dealing with Chicago weather being Chicago weather.