spring frogs?????

[mudchicken]

CTM is Cleveland Track Materials (The old Pettibone rail mill & foundry in Cleveland)...A direct competitor of ABC, Conley and their reincarnations. CTM owner Bill Willoughby & design engineer Carl Axtelm took me on a tour of their plant in the early 90's. That visit was one of the more interesting learning experiences this former roadmaster ever experienced. Was worth the trip just watching them roll new angle bars from old railcar axles...Another good source for a story someday. (I know the magazine's name is Trains and not Better Yards & Backtracks, but I think your readers would be interested.)

Not dialed-in on the truck casting defect issue. I never got bitten by it. Maybe there is a railroad mechanical guy watching the forum that can fle***hat one out.

Still trying to get you connected on the rental RDC issue...not forgotten.

Mudchicken

[mudchicken]

CTM is Cleveland Track Materials (The old Pettibone rail mill & foundry in Cleveland)...A direct competitor of ABC, Conley and their reincarnations. CTM owner Bill Willoughby & design engineer Carl Axtelm took me on a tour of their plant in the early 90's. That visit was one of the more interesting learning experiences this former roadmaster ever experienced. Was worth the trip just watching them roll new angle bars from old railcar axles...Another good source for a story someday. (I know the magazine's name is Trains and not Better Yards & Backtracks, but I think your readers would be interested.)

Not dialed-in on the truck casting defect issue. I never got bitten by it. Maybe there is a railroad mechanical guy watching the forum that can fle***hat one out.

Still trying to get you connected on the rental RDC issue...not forgotten.

Mudchicken

[Kathi Kube]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

CTM looking better all the time.

Ironken & Mudchicken,
What's CTM? I was around for a lot of the supplier-merger madness, but still very much an industry newbie and didn't necessarily understand all of it.

And wasn't there also something about some cast-steel truck components having major defects? I'm pretty sure that was Meridian, too. Can you fill in any details or jog my memory some more?

I'd appreciate it.

Kathi

[Kathi Kube]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken

CTM looking better all the time.

Ironken & Mudchicken,
What's CTM? I was around for a lot of the supplier-merger madness, but still very much an industry newbie and didn't necessarily understand all of it.

And wasn't there also something about some cast-steel truck components having major defects? I'm pretty sure that was Meridian, too. Can you fill in any details or jog my memory some more?

I'd appreciate it.

Kathi

[cabforward]

i must thank everyone for their patience in describing something which is hard for me to understand (the moveable, swingnose frog).. the other devices i have seen up close..

if i was standing next to a swingnose frog, i dont recall it, and if i tripped over it on the street, i wouldn't recognize it.. if someone has a diagram or photo with labels, i'd love to see it..

dankeschoen.

[cabforward]

i must thank everyone for their patience in describing something which is hard for me to understand (the moveable, swingnose frog).. the other devices i have seen up close..

if i was standing next to a swingnose frog, i dont recall it, and if i tripped over it on the street, i wouldn't recognize it.. if someone has a diagram or photo with labels, i'd love to see it..

dankeschoen.

[Anonymous]

I have only seen two types of movable frogs. The spring frog is in no way connected to the switch, the wheel flange moves the frog. The other was a power frog and if I remember right it had it's own switch machine.

[Anonymous]

I have only seen two types of movable frogs. The spring frog is in no way connected to the switch, the wheel flange moves the frog. The other was a power frog and if I remember right it had it's own switch machine.

[jchnhtfd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cabforward

okay,

>power frogs are also known as moveable point or swingnose frogs..<

good try, but i need it dumbed-down one more step..

is that where the switch turns on a swivel? the flangepath is open in whatever way the switch is turned.. the flangepath for the other direction is closed..

model trains used this in the 70s..

Tru-Scale, as I recall. I still have a bunch in the attic somewhere. No, on the 1:1 lines we're talking about here (and we are all talking split point switches, not stub!) the whole switch assembly doesn't move... if it's a facing point switch, you first would come to the regular point or switch rails, which cause the train (you hope) to take one track or the other. Then there are the stock rails. However, one of the stock rails has to cross the other at the frog. With spring frogs, the frog has one moveable wing rail on springs. With power or swingnose frogs, the point of the frog or one (or both) of the wing rails is moved by a switch machine to close the gap in the stock rail being used. Much more reliable than a plain spring frog. Much more complicated.

That help?

[jchnhtfd]

QUOTE: Originally posted by cabforward

okay,

>power frogs are also known as moveable point or swingnose frogs..<

good try, but i need it dumbed-down one more step..

is that where the switch turns on a swivel? the flangepath is open in whatever way the switch is turned.. the flangepath for the other direction is closed..

model trains used this in the 70s..

Tru-Scale, as I recall. I still have a bunch in the attic somewhere. No, on the 1:1 lines we're talking about here (and we are all talking split point switches, not stub!) the whole switch assembly doesn't move... if it's a facing point switch, you first would come to the regular point or switch rails, which cause the train (you hope) to take one track or the other. Then there are the stock rails. However, one of the stock rails has to cross the other at the frog. With spring frogs, the frog has one moveable wing rail on springs. With power or swingnose frogs, the point of the frog or one (or both) of the wing rails is moved by a switch machine to close the gap in the stock rail being used. Much more reliable than a plain spring frog. Much more complicated.

That help?

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Kensington Junction in Chicago (CSS&SB-IC) has movable point frogs on the crossings where the South Shore Line crosses over the IC freight main. No switches are involved on some of the diamonds but it is part of an interlocking that has some double slip switches.

[CSSHEGEWISCH]

Kensington Junction in Chicago (CSS&SB-IC) has movable point frogs on the crossings where the South Shore Line crosses over the IC freight main. No switches are involved on some of the diamonds but it is part of an interlocking that has some double slip switches.

[mudchicken]

Cabbo:

A frog is where two rails cross each other. (The proper name for a railroad diamond is a crossing frog / actually 4 frogs).....Moveable point frogs are connected by steel bar linkage to the same mechanism that moves the switch points. Moveable point frogs cover up the flangeway gap in the frog that is most of the source of the "banging" when a train goes over the switch. Hopefully regular split-point switches are not getting confused with stub switches here.

MC

[mudchicken]

Cabbo:

A frog is where two rails cross each other. (The proper name for a railroad diamond is a crossing frog / actually 4 frogs).....Moveable point frogs are connected by steel bar linkage to the same mechanism that moves the switch points. Moveable point frogs cover up the flangeway gap in the frog that is most of the source of the "banging" when a train goes over the switch. Hopefully regular split-point switches are not getting confused with stub switches here.

MC

[dehusman]

Hey, I was just replying to the question on kevinstheRRman's post of Posted: 24 Sep 2003, 03:06:28 PM.

The steam would blow the direction of the wind. If you don't believe that then you haven't spent much time around electric engines. Electric passenger engines (GG1, E60) have steam generators which vent out the top. I have pictures of electric engines blowing a 50 foot column of steam out the top of them (in the direction of the wind).

[dehusman]

Hey, I was just replying to the question on kevinstheRRman's post of Posted: 24 Sep 2003, 03:06:28 PM.

The steam would blow the direction of the wind. If you don't believe that then you haven't spent much time around electric engines. Electric passenger engines (GG1, E60) have steam generators which vent out the top. I have pictures of electric engines blowing a 50 foot column of steam out the top of them (in the direction of the wind).

[cabforward]

okay,

>power frogs are also known as moveable point or swingnose frogs..<

good try, but i need it dumbed-down one more step..

is that where the switch turns on a swivel? the flangepath is open in whatever way the switch is turned.. the flangepath for the other direction is closed..

model trains used this in the 70s..

[cabforward]

okay,

>power frogs are also known as moveable point or swingnose frogs..<

good try, but i need it dumbed-down one more step..

is that where the switch turns on a swivel? the flangepath is open in whatever way the switch is turned.. the flangepath for the other direction is closed..

model trains used this in the 70s..

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

If an electric train is heading north, which way would the steam be coming out?

The answer is which ever way the wind is blowing.

KevTheRRman:

Please have a talk with Mr. dehusman here. Somebody isn't going to get to that second star if we're already "fresh out" of original thoughts. The tree still fell in the woods even though nobody heard it and Louisville isn't the capital of Kentucky either....[xx(]

mudchicken

[mudchicken]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dehusman

If an electric train is heading north, which way would the steam be coming out?

The answer is which ever way the wind is blowing.

KevTheRRman:

Please have a talk with Mr. dehusman here. Somebody isn't going to get to that second star if we're already "fresh out" of original thoughts. The tree still fell in the woods even though nobody heard it and Louisville isn't the capital of Kentucky either....[xx(]

mudchicken

[dehusman]

If an electric train is heading north, which way would the steam be coming out?

The answer is which ever way the wind is blowing.

[dehusman]

If an electric train is heading north, which way would the steam be coming out?

The answer is which ever way the wind is blowing.

[mudchicken]

CTM looking better all the time.

[mudchicken]

CTM looking better all the time.

[Anonymous]

Yeah, Mud, I think that the 'ol Santa Flush shop was purchased in the Abex or early ABC days. When you drive by the ABC plant in Pueblo now, you hardly see any activity there after 4:00p. We used to work tons of O/T, 3 shifts 7 days a week. Man it was beautiful! Now, first shift only (I think) and very few weekends. 80% of our work was for the Yellow boys, and the plant scoffed at BN stuff. Now it is mostly BN. In the early 90's they pissed off the Eastern roads. The management thought that they had the market cornered with a "take it, or leave it attitude." Now they are begging for orders and 'ol Uncle Pete is shifting their orders to Progress Scab rail. That place used to be able to make a guy a good living and was fun to work at. Get off at 10:00 (if you werent on O/T) and go across the hiway to the Beer Barrel and throw dice after work. Not any more! The guys that went back are scraping to make ends meet. Meridian really made things better. "Meridian," sounds like a phone company name, not a trackproducts manufacturer.
later, Ken

[Anonymous]

Yeah, Mud, I think that the 'ol Santa Flush shop was purchased in the Abex or early ABC days. When you drive by the ABC plant in Pueblo now, you hardly see any activity there after 4:00p. We used to work tons of O/T, 3 shifts 7 days a week. Man it was beautiful! Now, first shift only (I think) and very few weekends. 80% of our work was for the Yellow boys, and the plant scoffed at BN stuff. Now it is mostly BN. In the early 90's they pissed off the Eastern roads. The management thought that they had the market cornered with a "take it, or leave it attitude." Now they are begging for orders and 'ol Uncle Pete is shifting their orders to Progress Scab rail. That place used to be able to make a guy a good living and was fun to work at. Get off at 10:00 (if you werent on O/T) and go across the hiway to the Beer Barrel and throw dice after work. Not any more! The guys that went back are scraping to make ends meet. Meridian really made things better. "Meridian," sounds like a phone company name, not a trackproducts manufacturer.
later, Ken

[mudchicken]

Had to ask, have to figure out the relationship. Was going to ask if the old Santa Fe frog & special trackwork shop at Newtron fit in there. Go by the old ABC facility at CF&I in Pueblo regularly and wonder what happened there - assume the french did the same thing there. No need to apologize.

mudchicken

[mudchicken]

Had to ask, have to figure out the relationship. Was going to ask if the old Santa Fe frog & special trackwork shop at Newtron fit in there. Go by the old ABC facility at CF&I in Pueblo regularly and wonder what happened there - assume the french did the same thing there. No need to apologize.

mudchicken

[Anonymous]

I knew that you would respond to this one Mud. I came along during the ABC years. I quit when Meridian came in and *** on the company. After Meridian took over, our contract was null (no successor clause) and the scabs rolled in. About half of us left and a new contract was signed at about a 4-9 $hr loss. I was just in Newton, Ks. and seen the Meridian plant there while I was yarding my train. They kept their wages when the evil Meridian took over. Progress will put them in the dirt with their substandard quality and lower prices. Sorry, sore subject!
Ken