The “Gandy Dancers” used to break rail all the time back in the day. Had a large chisel with a handle for the scoring. Breaks easier in cold weather. My this from my Grandfather who worked for the Rock Island RR. My father was a contractor who took up several hundred miles of track from the early 1960s till the late 70s. I saw many of these chisels. They lacked the power tools snd mechanization of today well into 1960s and railroads far predate cutting torches. So the would break the rail if needed.
