Really glad you caught this! Nothing more frustrating than standing there waiting to video switch points moving. Interesting that the points throw in 2 steps, so they don't collide.
Lol I must have tried to catch this half a dozen times before. Seems that they default it to straight right get a train comes off the curve line. Maybe next time I'll bring a tripod 😅
Catching a swing bridge opening, and/or, closing takes lot of tries too. It's fascinating to see the bridge swing back and then lower almost a foot down to position.
I taught railway engineering for six years, including a whole lecture on switches (turnouts) and crossing, thinking I had covered everything. But I was not aware of movable-point frogs for CROSSINGS (which is shown here). Movable-point frogs (also known charmingly as "swing-nose frogs") are fairly common on high-speed lines, especially in Asia and Europe, for SWITCHES. I know BNSF has used them on mainline crossover switches in the US. By eliminating the rail-head gap they reduce wear on wheels and rails, and therefor maintenance needs. They also reduce noise, a consideration in dense urban areas. (Note to British and maybe some southern US viewers: In most of North America "crossing" means one track intersecting another at grade with no choice of route, not the rails within a turnout that cross. And crossover means a pair of switches that allow a train to move from one track to a parallel track. Don't get me started...)
AFAIK it's mostly the American thing to have diamond crossings on mainlines. On Russian railways (that is, in all ex-Soviet countries) placing diamonds on mainlines are prohibited (with rare exceptions for double-slip turnouts).
@@u2bear377 A double-slip turnout like the one shown in the video? I don't think any North American railways are installing any new diamond crossings these days, but if they are it's because the alternative is far too expensive. One of the busiest diamond crossings (the Davenport Diamond in a dense part of Toronto, where a passenger line crossed a freight line) was recently replaced with a long viaduct.
@@cmmartti A double-slip turnout is a crossing of two tracks where it's possible to diverge from one track to the other. It's effectively a diamond crossing and 4 switches interweaved.
Moveable frog for a diamond, haven't seen one of those before. I've seen them for turnouts, there are several on the Burlington Racetrack west from Chicago, and they're installed for the same reason. Much of that route is rated P-70 F-50, and the moveable frogs combined with longer turnouts allow for higher speeds.
The acute angle frogs are opposed by check rails. This is much harder to do for the obtuse angle frogs as they oppose each other, hence the speed limit. The moveable frog definitely makes sense here.
The primary reason for using movable point frogs is less wear and tear on everything. Secondary being to speed up movements. UP employed them on the crossovers out on their Nebraska triple track main. Neat to see them in action!
I wonder where you found the 30 mph across those switches. The turn is pretty sharp, so my guess would be 20 mph. Just curious as someone who has operated light rail trains over switches similar to these.
Excellent video. Strictly speaking, such types of frogs are called "Moveable Point Frogs", not "Moveable Frogs". Please note that in a rail-rail crossing of non-HSR (High-Speed Rail) operations, only half of the four frogs, i.e. those located at the obtuse angle positions of the load-bearing rails, can be of this type. The other half, i.e. those located at the acute angle positions, are of conventional rigid point type. Also, such frogs cannot be used at large angle line intersections where railway "Diamonds" are used. Both of these constraints are the result of intrinsic engineering considerations. 2024/10/05. Ontario, Canada.
What you call a Frog in Australia we call a Vee crossing. The item that is subject to the video is a K crossing, different part. This version is sometimes called a movable K of swing-nNose K (though a K doues not really have a nose, a borrowed term from a swing-nose vee). There are only traditional vee's in this video, no swing-nose variety.
The name frog comes from from the shape. It was said it was named because it looks like the frog in the horse's hoof, which in turn was named because it looks like an actual frog. The railroad crossing shape is distorted enough so it doesn't look like an actual frog to me.
George Westinghouse also gave us the 40 hour workweek, paid vacations, sick days, pensions, overtime pay and numerous other things that unions take credit for. They made them more popular but George Westinghouse was the one who thought them up and implemented them. He was once asked if he was a socialist. He replied, “ I am a capitalist with a capital c.”
Funny how I modeled this in G-scale without knowing it already existed. Awesome! I sold that particular turnout on eBay years ago. TH-cam loves to delete comments. Here is my train channel. www.youtube.com/@j.a.rrailworks9968
@@jordansean18 I sold that turnout on eBay years ago. I currently have a different turnout which uses technically no frog at all. Here is my channel for more train stuff. youtube.com/@j.a.rrailworks9968?si=fhtFw_Grpa2E58wp
@@jordansean18 I sold that particular turnout on eBay years ago. TH-cam loves to delete comments. Here is my train channel. www.youtube.com/@j.a.rrailworks9968
@@jordansean18 just curious because there are 6 crossings at the Tower 55 crossing in Fort Worth, TX near us and the 6 old crossings are cut out and laying not too far from the track. I always wondered how long they last.
So why is the USA rail system So Bad compared to Europe's, How many People does it move across the 3,000 miles between coast to coast, And you post about a points system, Wow, We Europeans have moved on from Windows "97"
@@bryansmith1920 the fundamental issue is that European rail is built for passengers while American rail has always been built for freight. Passengers are a bonus, and not a priority; they have to yield to freight schedules at all times.
Really glad you caught this! Nothing more frustrating than standing there waiting to video switch points moving. Interesting that the points throw in 2 steps, so they don't collide.
Lol I must have tried to catch this half a dozen times before. Seems that they default it to straight right get a train comes off the curve line.
Maybe next time I'll bring a tripod 😅
Catching a swing bridge opening, and/or, closing takes lot of tries too. It's fascinating to see the bridge swing back and then lower almost a foot down to position.
The giant lift bridge over the Delaware Chesapeake Canal in Delaware is a other one that's very rare to catch in motion, but it does move.
@@RCAvhstape Do You know if it, before opening, lifts the entire structure before swinging around? The opposite when closing....
@@Stefan_Boerjesson No it lifts straight up. Normally it stays up for water traffic and only comes down for trains like once or twice a week.
I taught railway engineering for six years, including a whole lecture on switches (turnouts) and crossing, thinking I had covered everything. But I was not aware of movable-point frogs for CROSSINGS (which is shown here). Movable-point frogs (also known charmingly as "swing-nose frogs") are fairly common on high-speed lines, especially in Asia and Europe, for SWITCHES. I know BNSF has used them on mainline crossover switches in the US. By eliminating the rail-head gap they reduce wear on wheels and rails, and therefor maintenance needs. They also reduce noise, a consideration in dense urban areas. (Note to British and maybe some southern US viewers: In most of North America "crossing" means one track intersecting another at grade with no choice of route, not the rails within a turnout that cross. And crossover means a pair of switches that allow a train to move from one track to a parallel track. Don't get me started...)
AFAIK it's mostly the American thing to have diamond crossings on mainlines.
On Russian railways (that is, in all ex-Soviet countries) placing diamonds on mainlines are prohibited (with rare exceptions for double-slip turnouts).
😂😂😂
@@u2bear377 A double-slip turnout like the one shown in the video?
I don't think any North American railways are installing any new diamond crossings these days, but if they are it's because the alternative is far too expensive. One of the busiest diamond crossings (the Davenport Diamond in a dense part of Toronto, where a passenger line crossed a freight line) was recently replaced with a long viaduct.
@@cmmartti A double-slip turnout is a crossing of two tracks where it's possible to diverge from one track to the other.
It's effectively a diamond crossing and 4 switches interweaved.
Not MOW nor do I portray that on TV. MoE my entire railroad career. Thank you for giving my trains something to ride on.
Very interesteing thank you for sharing excellent video!
Never knew they existed, thanks
That was very interesting, I’ve never seen one of these before. Thanks for sharing and have a great weekend 👍🏼🇺🇸😎
I live near this interchange… it’s wild. Ty for your presentation 👍🏼
I’ve been here 250 times. When did they install that?
Moveable frog for a diamond, haven't seen one of those before. I've seen them for turnouts, there are several on the Burlington Racetrack west from Chicago, and they're installed for the same reason. Much of that route is rated P-70 F-50, and the moveable frogs combined with longer turnouts allow for higher speeds.
Very informative, thank you!
The acute angle frogs are opposed by check rails. This is much harder to do for the obtuse angle frogs as they oppose each other, hence the speed limit. The moveable frog definitely makes sense here.
I was about to ask why it was only on those two frogs. Thanks for the explanation!
The primary reason for using movable point frogs is less wear and tear on everything. Secondary being to speed up movements. UP employed them on the crossovers out on their Nebraska triple track main. Neat to see them in action!
Very cool, very unusual!! 🤩
Nice catch!
Good catch. I’ve seen other types, but not one like this.
Been on amtrak coming in and out of Vancouver, WA.
I didn't know what a frog was until now...ty for enlightening me
That is really fascinating to watching!! 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼
I wonder where you found the 30 mph across those switches. The turn is pretty sharp, so my guess would be 20 mph. Just curious as someone who has operated light rail trains over switches similar to these.
@@MegaSnow121 big yellow signs at 0:22.
@ I stand corrected. Thank you for pointing that out.
very interesting . learn something everyday
Looks like a good design
Excellent video. Strictly speaking, such types of frogs are called "Moveable Point Frogs", not "Moveable Frogs".
Please note that in a rail-rail crossing of non-HSR (High-Speed Rail) operations, only half of the four frogs, i.e. those located at the obtuse angle positions of the load-bearing rails, can be of this type. The other half, i.e. those located at the acute angle positions, are of conventional rigid point type.
Also, such frogs cannot be used at large angle line intersections where railway "Diamonds" are used.
Both of these constraints are the result of intrinsic engineering considerations. 2024/10/05. Ontario, Canada.
That’s my favorite spot to railfan at
this is pretty awesome.
What you call a Frog in Australia we call a Vee crossing. The item that is subject to the video is a K crossing, different part. This version is sometimes called a movable K of swing-nNose K (though a K doues not really have a nose, a borrowed term from a swing-nose vee). There are only traditional vee's in this video, no swing-nose variety.
The name frog comes from from the shape. It was said it was named because it looks like the frog in the horse's hoof, which in turn was named because it looks like an actual frog. The railroad crossing shape is distorted enough so it doesn't look like an actual frog to me.
Fantastic video!!! 👍
Interesting. I note the rails in that area are worn badly and will likely need replacing soon.
Ft. Madison Bridge built 1927 (BNSF)
@@dan-fr9dn hmm? No this one is over the Columbia River between Vancouver and Portland
I assume the signs at 0.21 are speed limit signs; P for passenger and F for freight. What is the T for?
@@SCDRROHVA T is for Talgo, it's the trainset used by Amtrak Cascades. (Had to look it up in the BNSF guide to confirm)
@@jordansean18 Thanks! I'm glad you explained what Talgo is, as I did not know that either. I appreciate your response!
Train 🙂
We call them switch diamonds in the UK
Who inventer turnout frogs? George Westinghouse. Before he invented air brakes.
George Westinghouse also gave us the 40 hour workweek, paid vacations, sick days, pensions, overtime pay and numerous other things that unions take credit for. They made them more popular but George Westinghouse was the one who thought them up and implemented them. He was once asked if he was a socialist. He replied, “ I am a capitalist with a capital c.”
Nice !!!
BNSF made a time-lapse video of the installation. th-cam.com/video/snmIvNAXMyI/w-d-xo.htmlsi=OUZI7S8STNAahVB9
Funny how I modeled this in G-scale without knowing it already existed. Awesome!
I sold that particular turnout on eBay years ago.
TH-cam loves to delete comments.
Here is my train channel.
www.youtube.com/@j.a.rrailworks9968
@@Bassotronics I'd love to see it!
@@jordansean18 I sold that turnout on eBay years ago.
I currently have a different turnout which uses technically no frog at all.
Here is my channel for more train stuff.
youtube.com/@j.a.rrailworks9968?si=fhtFw_Grpa2E58wp
@@jordansean18
I sold that particular turnout on eBay years ago.
TH-cam loves to delete comments.
Here is my train channel.
www.youtube.com/@j.a.rrailworks9968
@@jordansean18
I can't see any of my comments.
TH-cam is being a B*ch...
I keep posting the link to my channel and it keeps dissapearing.
That is really neat! I wonder how the longevity is vs the regular crossing.
@@TwoRailfans this is a critical high traffic area, there's a BNSF maintenance yard half a mile away. They'll definitely maintain it closely 😉
@@jordansean18 just curious because there are 6 crossings at the Tower 55 crossing in Fort Worth, TX near us and the 6 old crossings are cut out and laying not too far from the track. I always wondered how long they last.
Are they electric motor or pneumatic?
Washington? Oregon?
@@gdmofo in Washington, looking at oregon
@@jordansean18 bueno
WTF, where is the picture?
NOT cheap.
So why is the USA rail system So Bad compared to Europe's, How many People does it move across the 3,000 miles between coast to coast, And you post about a points system, Wow, We Europeans have moved on from Windows "97"
No one gives a shit.
@@bryansmith1920 the fundamental issue is that European rail is built for passengers while American rail has always been built for freight. Passengers are a bonus, and not a priority; they have to yield to freight schedules at all times.
Don't be so sour :) Movable frogs in crossings are kind of special, in Europe as well. And if you don't think so: you don't have to watch this video!
we have more miles of rail