The Science Behind the Tibet Railroad

After posting yesterday about the maiden journey of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, I ran across the following article in Wired Magazine.  As you might suspect, the Wired article focuses on the technological advances that were necessary to build what is perhaps the most unique railroad in the world. 

Chinese engineers faced two major problems; 342 miles of permafrost upon which portions of the track were to be built, and the thin Himalayan air which passengers would have to breathe during the journey. 

The article is a fascinating testament to Chinese technology and the science that went into engineering a train journey that takes place between 13,000 and 16,000 feet--which is, as writer David Wolman points out, "cruising altitude for some commuter flights." 

Making such an environment hospitable involved, among other things, UV coated windows as well as breaking down air from outside the train to be consumed within. "Nitrogen and other gasses are released back into the atmosphere, while the concentrated oxygen, mixed with some outside air, is pumped throughout the train." 

Wolman also discusses the steps taken, such as circulating liquid nitrogen through vertical pipes along the rail line, to insure that the weight and heat of the train does not melt the fragile permafrost and sink the tracks.  While everything seems to be in order right now, global warming will possibly wreck havoc on the lines in the next 10-20 years if the system is not improved to accommodate warming temperatures.   

Better go now before the Qinghai-Tibet Railway goes the way of fishing villages upstream from the Three Gorges Dam. 

Filed under: China