Whenever a train rumbles past, you may have never noticed the inconspicuous black wood beneath the tracks. These seemingly ordinary sleepers have actually undergone a magical transformation journey. They were originally tall pine trees in the forest farm, but after special "steaming" treatment, they have transformed into railway guards that can last for decades. Today we will talk about the stories behind these woods.

1、 The magnificent turn of pine wood

In the forest sea of Northeast China, workers select straight pine trees to make sleepers. Pine wood has its own "superpower" - the wood is softer and easier to absorb anti-corrosion oil compared to other woods. After these high-quality pine trees are sawn into standard sizes, they need to be air dried in the open air to allow the wood to dry naturally, just like giving the wood a deep breath.

They are going to enter the 'sauna room' next. The steam pressure vessel in the factory is like a giant pressure cooker. After cutting and scratching the sleepers, they are pushed forward and then subjected to high-temperature and high-pressure immersion in anti-corrosion oil, which is the so-called "steaming and boiling" process. Unlike the common steaming and cooking in our daily lives, steaming and cooking sleepers use preservative oil instead of water. After being steamed with anti-corrosion oil, the sleepers become more durable and resistant to corrosion, effectively isolating external moisture and microorganisms, hence the name anti-corrosion sleepers.

2、 Gentle guardians under the railway tracks

Compared to the cold cement sleepers, wooden sleepers are actually the "warm-hearted men" on railway lines. When the train passes, the wood will deform slightly to absorb vibrations, just like the air cushion of sports shoes protecting the tracks. In the northeast at minus 40 ℃, there is a risk of frost cracking in cement pillows, but wooden pillows are still flexible and reliable. The workers all say that wooden pillows breathe in winter, and the tiny gaps left by thermal expansion and contraction are just a buffer against temperature changes.

3、 The new life of old craftsmanship

Many people are unaware that the technique of using pressure tanks to process wood is over 150 years old. But now factories have installed intelligent control systems on it, just like equipping traditional crafts with high-tech assistants. Sensors can accurately control temperature and pressure, ensuring that every piece of wood drinks enough anti-corrosion oil. The surface of the processed wooden pillow is shiny and shiny, and feels like it is covered with a protective film. Its service life is more than 5 times longer than ordinary wood.

In the era of high-speed rail, wooden pillows still shine and heat up on slow train lines and station turnouts. They are like the predecessors of the railway system, guarding the tracks in a gentle way. Next time you take the train, why not take a look at those dark sleepers outside the window? They are the "wooden warriors" who have experienced big scenes.

The journey of pine wood from the forest to the railway tracks tells us that as long as we find the right method, seemingly ordinary materials can also create miracles. These "steamed" woods not only continue our lives, but also make our journey home safer and smoother. The combination of technology and nature can sometimes be both simple and wonderful.