In a modern railway track with continuously welded rail, when a rail breaks   
   how big of a gap is there between the between the broken ends after the break   
   if it occurs when the rail is at maximum tension in winter?   
      
   How deep does a fatigue crack typically get before the rail breaks completely   
   through?   
      
   How deep does a crack have to be before it can be detected by a magnetic or   
   ultrasonic scan?   
      
   Thank you,   
      
   Peter Wezeman   
   anti-social Darwinist   
      
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