My Quest Has Led Me Here

[Anonymous]

The question I would like to have answered is a simple one: What is a wrecking frog as it relates to railroading? Any help you can give me would be appreciated. Thanks for your time.

[Jackflash]

Not sure of the question, never heard of a
wrecking frog, but you may be asking about
re-railers, heavy cast metal devices that
can be attached to the side of the rail
in order to re-rail a car or locomotive when
the off the track wheel is near the rail, I've
heard some MOW people also call these things
"Bat Wings". jackflash

[Anonymous]

God bless you, sir. That sounds like the right piece of equipment, or very near to it. I'm a student of logging railroads, shays, climaxes, and the like. I read something online that said something along the lines of "when a single truck came off the track the problem was easily solved with log chains and wrecking frogs." Thank you very much for your help.

[Anonymous]

There's a forum run by Yahoo specifically for lumber/logging. It's (4L) something. Do a Google search (http://www.google.com).

Lots of logging enthusiasts up there.

[BR60103]

If you look at pictures of steam locomotive tenders, especially Canadian Pacific, you'll often see a rerailer hanging from the undeframe between the trucks.
--David

[edblysard]

Wrecking frogs are re-railers, shaped like a track frog with a groved incline to lift the wheel back up on the track. Most have chains attached to front of the vee shape to hold the frog in place so the car being re-railed will not drag the frog along. At the rear of the vee you often find a brace to hold the frog against an opposing tie. Some are designed to be clamped against the rail. You come against the derailed car with a loco and idler car, couple up and pull. If the frog isnt held in place the wheel will just drag it along. As with most equipment there are several makes and models. What you see hanging on the side of switchers and some bigger locos is a more portable version to be used where MOW is not readily able to help.