Because we all are located in different parts of the country or world, we have knowledge of different types of railroading. I have railfanned for decades in Oregon and southern Washington but I don’t think I have ever seen a active diamond. Does anybody know of any in this area?
There are ‘diamonds’ all over the Portland area. The BNSF and UP cross at several locations.
Jim
Here’s a major main-line diamond in Portland, Penn Junction:
http://www.bing.com/maps/?v=2&cp=45.59418374243483~-122.69689433276653&lvl=14&sty=r
Wow - that one you can drive right up to ! [‘Peninsula Jct.’]
I notice that with the ‘all-4-quadrants’ connecting tracks from one line to the other, the result is 3 grade crossings of N. Columbia Blvd. within about 500 to 650 ft. or so of each other. That surely has the potential for delaying the local road traffic there . . . [:-,]
I also see what looks a lot like a pile of rail stored off to the east side of this junction - but even with that nice green field, I can’t seem to find the old/ spare crossing frog/ diamond that is usually stashed away someplace close by for use as a temporary replacement, in case the existing one is destroyed in a derailment, etc. [:O]
- Paul North.
Maybe the ‘spare’ diamond has been pressed into service and a new replacement is under construction…
Thanks guys, I guess I will have to leave the rural setting and venture into the city to fine the cool stuff. It also looks like a interesting tunnel to the south of the diamond. It can’t be that deep below the basements of all those houses. I wonder if they ran into a few well casing when the bore that tunnel.