diamonds

Trains Magazine General Discussion
21

Now you know why railroads will do almost anything to avoid costly crossing frogs. (Or in JoeKoh’s case set the unused frog aside for use later)

As far as crossing frog life goes - You are totally dependent on maintenance, tonnage, speed (impact), type of frog used and pure luck.

As a for instance, crossing frogs bought for ATSF’s Southern California transcon crossing of the SP were purchased (If memory still holds true) in 1978 and were replaced in 1994. (Single track SP crossing double track ATSF)…We caniballized the remains of the old frogs and made a spare crossing frog to keep in the weeds in case of emergency (two of the manganese frog insert on that spare diamond were not the 1978 originals and several of the planed & milled rail pieces were not original either which should tell you something about the brutal existance of special trackwork)

22

You kept them in the weeds!!! It sounds like you should have kept them chained up to something quite stationary![:)]

23

Murph, nobody knows to steal them. Beside, they are a little heavy and difficult to hock.[swg] It’s really more paperweight than my desk needs.[:O][:P][:-,][;)]

24

I can see a posting on ebay for one 9.67 degree railroad frog. Minimum big $10,000.