Saw a picture on the net of a movable frog turnout that creates a solid rail in the frog and switchs when the points switch. Anybody know of a location in the USA?
I'm sure there are lots in the USA, but mine was on my layout here in Canada.
I wouldn't be surprised if Sheldon will have some on his new layout, too.
They're also often seen on real railroads, especially for high speed trains.
Wayne
Amtrak northeast corridor, BNSF/UP powder river basin, UP around Chicago on Geneva Sub (Metra) are some examples
UP is biggest user
They're common on the major railroads now. Most of the dispatcher controlled switches on the UP across Iowa have moveable point frogs. Some of the CNW installed switches with regular frogs still exist in some places. Almost all UP new or replacement dispatcher controlled switches are equipped with them.
Jeff
Hello All,
Can you post a link or photo?
Hope this helps.
"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"
jjdamnitCan you post a link or photo?
Also called a "swing nose frog". The tall thing with a sign on it is a blower to blow air over the frog in the winter so it doesn't get jammed with snow and ice. The duct work is for the blower. The three part silver thing behind the ductwork on the ground is the switch motor to drive the frog point (just like a dual control motor on the switch points.)
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
To put this in a little context, see the difference in this picture (from an earlier thread) that shows this frog design in context.
https://www.railpictures.net/showimage.php?id=240339&key=8928380
Note that this does not involve a stub-type 'perfect' full railhead contact patch through the frog area, as some higher-speed designs use. But also note the difference between the heroic mechanism assuring correct geometry under load for the switchpoints proper vs. what is needed for the little movable point in the high-speed frog...
Since the frog point needs to be able to move back and forth doesn't that expand the gap to the stationary rail in the direction it is thrown? Is that a potential problem from the constant impacts from the wheels?
ndbprrSince the frog point needs to be able to move back and forth doesn't that expand the gap to the stationary rail in the direction it is thrown? Is that a potential problem from the constant impacts from the wheels?
Don't understand which gaps you are talking about. The whole idea of a moveable point frog is it eliminates the gap and provides a near continous surface to eliminate impacts.
ndbprrSince the frog point needs to be able to move back and forth doesn't that expand the gap to the stationary rail in the direction it is thrown?
This also tells you why flange bearing in such a swingnose frog is not needed, as it is in a high-speed diamond crossing or some higher-number conventional frogs...
I assume the frog point has a pivot at the back end that contacts the rails after the frog and the switch machine pivots the front against either rail on the entry end. It should be impossible to move the front if the back ends are flush with the rails in both positions. So if the point is moved in one direction the back end in that position is rotated away from the exit end to some degree. This may be an extremely small gap or as much as 1/4". When the wheels get to the back end of the frog I am wondering about wear to the ends of the frog and rail.
ndbprrI assume the frog point has a pivot at the back end
There's enough flex in the length of the rail that makes up the frog that no pivot is necessary.
Movable frog point by Steve Cox, on Flickr
Note the rails that make up the "moving point" are very similar to a pair of switch point rails side-by-side in that they nest due to their being carefully machined so that the base and head practically form one piece of rail but there is a "sliding action" between the two.
Three switch motors are required to operate this movable point frog turnout:
Switch with movable frog point by Steve Cox, on Flickr
Note, too, that each motor is driving two tie bars through linkage (four tie bars total on these long points.
Good Luck, Ed
Ed wrote: "Three switch motors are required to operate this movable point frog turnout"
On Amtrak, and perhaps on Metro-North as well, the 80mph crossovers have FIVE motors per switch. Three on the points, two more on the movable frog.
That means TEN switch motors for a single crossover. If something doesn't work, the maintainer has to check all of 'em...!
And if for some reason you're on the engine and have to get talked by a signal to go over these, you've got to be watching out for misalignment on the frogs as well as the points...
ndbprrI assume the frog point has a pivot at the back end that contacts the rails after the frog and the switch machine pivots the front against either rail on the entry end.
There is no pivot on the frog, just like there is no "pivot" on the points. The rail bends.
Note that in the picture I linked, there are EIGHT motors on the points and three on the frog.
There's also spring-loaded frogs. Frogs move as well, but no motors, and they return to normal after you go through them.
The opinions expressed here represent my own and not those of my employer, any other railroad, company, or person.
zugmannThere's also spring-loaded frogs.
Frog_Sprung_drawing (2016_08_17 08_08_12 UTC) by Edmund, on Flickr
Regards, Ed
They're going to really only be in locations where there's heavy traffic, like intermodal, or automobile transport. I think that you're going to want to look along UP, or BNSF mains for them. Not sure if NS has any off hand.
Disclaimer: This post may contain humor, sarcasm, and/or flatulence.
Michael Mornard
Bringing the North Woods to South Dakota!
Sprung frogs (or should that be sprung wing rails?) are only used where a seldom used (and low speed) track joins a highly used (and usually high speed) track.
There is such a thing at Lyle, WA. On the river side of the main, there is a siding that used to go around the back of the station. On the east end of the siding, there is a switch with a sprung frog. It's different than the drawing of one, above, in that there's only a spring on one side, not both.
Traffic can only leave by that switch. It cannot enter. The siding is used for MOW equipment and/or car storage. The OTHER end cannot be a sprung frog, of course; because then you couldn't enter the siding at all.
On examining a photo of the frog, I see that there's a groove worn into the top of the closure/wing rail, parallel to the main, and about a rail width BEYOND the outer edge of the main track rail. This implies some pretty badly worn wheels, where the area of the wheel adjacent to the flange has been worn down below the level at the outer face of the wheel. About 1/4" on the wheel radius, or 1/2" on the diameter is my guess. And it ain't just one wheel.
The switch is also remotely locked, as I saw a guy "phoning home" to get it unlocked (so he could leave, using that switch).
Ed
There are places where spring frogs are used at turnouts with higher speeds on both routes. I know of at least one 40 mph turnout that was a siding switch but now is the switch at the end of two main tracks.
jeffhergert There are places where spring frogs are used at turnouts with higher speeds on both routes. I know of at least one 40 mph turnout that was a siding switch but now is the switch at the end of two main tracks. Jeff
So, what's it sound like when a train goes through that spring frog at 40 MPH? I'm thinking "impressive".
Usually fitted with a hydraulic retarder to slow down the closure of the wing rail
7j43k I've never really noticed much noise going through the one at West Kennard. UP just recently replaced a moveable point frog with a spring frog at a control point about 10 miles west of Clinton IA. The turnouts at the CP are 40 mph. A conductor was able to talk with the foreman doing the work. The foreman didn't understand why they were doing it* when they've been upgrading CPs out on the western end of the system. The foreman made it sound like other CPs may also lose their moveable point frogs in favor of spring frogs. * Beyond the obvious cost of maintaing the frog machine and the frog heater. Jeff jeffhergert There are places where spring frogs are used at turnouts with higher speeds on both routes. I know of at least one 40 mph turnout that was a siding switch but now is the switch at the end of two main tracks. Jeff So, what's it sound like when a train goes through that spring frog at 40 MPH? I'm thinking "impressive". Ed
I've never really noticed much noise going through the one at West Kennard.
UP just recently replaced a moveable point frog with a spring frog at a control point about 10 miles west of Clinton IA. The turnouts at the CP are 40 mph. A conductor was able to talk with the foreman doing the work. The foreman didn't understand why they were doing it* when they've been upgrading CPs out on the western end of the system. The foreman made it sound like other CPs may also lose their moveable point frogs in favor of spring frogs.
* Beyond the obvious cost of maintaing the frog machine and the frog heater.
The Union Pacific double mainline right smack thru the middle of Boone, Iowa has movable frogs on both mains. By coincidence I was thru there just yesterday (!) and took pictures of these exact objects because I was wondering what the heck they were...
EDIT:
Just found this photo from the location I'm referencing. This is facing east towards the yard and shops. The UP office is out of frame to the right. This grade crossing location is Story Street between 9th and 10th.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/jterry618/51171294761/in/photolist-2kXQg9M-Tze3z5-2gMrfuj-2gToSCL-2iYi2wU-2jZaMVM-2jZ65xk-2jZ6fSP-vrmhYN-2gx2RqH-2gBNviq-uM8WLt-2kXQgbL-2iZM5hC-dVC5ze-2gYzJwj-2gyUH3d-2dXDyja-2gFCPYM-2iSzuZF-pnzS19-2gG8yF5-2bLCvVy-2gLxBGT-Tze3Hm-2jZaB8Q-k5PKM2-2gEtzLC-mDiVN9-2gzD3dn-23eNXrU-2jZaBdK-23hqn4k-2krYbtE-2jZ9Mux-21Vg23p-2kXUjUC-2gF7bud-27m2AHY-2jZ65Lg-24BBG89-pbzqw8-vHVqg6-vrsxUX-q6dWU9-pQVEJU-q89E2n-pbzmrz-pbzseX-EYcLiF/
Andy
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Milwaukee native modeling the Milwaukee Road in 1950's Milwaukee.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/196857529@N03/
UP has more than all class 1's combined (excluding Amtrak northeast corridor)
The Milwaukee Road Warrior The Union Pacific double mainline right smack thru the middle of Boone, Iowa has movable frogs on both mains. By coincidence I was thru there just yesterday (!) and took pictures of these exact objects because I was wondering what the heck they were... EDIT: Just found this photo from the location I'm referencing. This is facing east towards the yard and shops. The UP office is out of frame to the right. This grade crossing location is Story Street between 9th and 10th. https://www.flickr.com/photos/jterry618/51171294761/in/photolist-2kXQg9M-Tze3z5-2gMrfuj-2gToSCL-2iYi2wU-2jZaMVM-2jZ65xk-2jZ6fSP-vrmhYN-2gx2RqH-2gBNviq-uM8WLt-2kXQgbL-2iZM5hC-dVC5ze-2gYzJwj-2gyUH3d-2dXDyja-2gFCPYM-2iSzuZF-pnzS19-2gG8yF5-2bLCvVy-2gLxBGT-Tze3Hm-2jZaB8Q-k5PKM2-2gEtzLC-mDiVN9-2gzD3dn-23eNXrU-2jZaBdK-23hqn4k-2krYbtE-2jZ9Mux-21Vg23p-2kXUjUC-2gF7bud-27m2AHY-2jZ65Lg-24BBG89-pbzqw8-vHVqg6-vrsxUX-q6dWU9-pQVEJU-q89E2n-pbzmrz-pbzseX-EYcLiF/
All the turnouts, except for the one going into the yard are 40 mph. The one for the yard, not a moveable point frog, is for practical purposes a 10 mph. The speed allowed on the yard lead.
KibuFox They're going to really only be in locations where there's heavy traffic, like intermodal, or automobile transport. I think that you're going to want to look along UP, or BNSF mains for them. Not sure if NS has any off hand.
No, the Long Island Rail Road has been placing these on all of their new construction. Manufacture's websit says that they are made from #6 to #32.7 wich is good for trains moving at 65 miles per hour. That photo on UP looks like it is longer than that. I suspect there is no top end that you could build for a high speed railroad.
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