Method for raising welded rail connections lying below the traveling surface on railroad tracks

Method of raising of rail joint welds which lie below a traveling surface of railroad tracks, by heating a weld with an ignited aluminothermic mixture which solidifies after reacting, said method comprising the steps of:

• providing the aluminothermic mixture in an amount that, measured in kilograms, is equal to from one-fifth to one-tenth of the weight per meter of the rail, likewise measured in kilogram;
• distributing the aluminothermic mixture so that a rail base is heated by using 30 to 60% of the aluminothermic mixture, and a rail web is heated by using a remaining amount of the aluminothermic mixture evenly distributed on both sides of the rail web;
• igniting the aluminothermic mixture and leaving the aluminothermic mixture on the rail for a number of minutes equal to 0.7 to 1.5 times the weight in kilograms of the amount of aluminothermic mixture, whereby, due to a pattern of distribution of the aluminothermic mixture along the rail base and the rail web, the rail base and the rail web are heated to different temperatures resulting in raising of the weld;
• and
• removing the reacted aluminothermic mixture from the rail base and web.