Diamond Crossings

[ScottC4746]

Since they have soundproofed the windows you don't get to hear the bells at the grade crossings like you used to, I live for diamond crossings. Those you can hear! Does anyone know how many are on the SWC or CA Zeph?

 

[user 1215]

My experience has been that the bells at grade crossings are only used when the arms are lowering or raising. SO, when the train comes through, they're not dinging...

 

[fairviewroad]

My experience has been that the bells at grade crossings are only used when the arms are lowering or raising. SO, when the train comes through, they're not dinging...

The grade crossings near my house have bells ringing the entire time the gates are down. When a freight train stalled out in town a week ago,

the gates were down for 70 minutes with those bells clanging the entire time! :help:

 

[PerRock]

I'm not familiar with any diamond crossings that have bells and whistles.

This by definition is a diamond crossing: http://www.sandpointtrainstation.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sandpoint_diamond01.jpg

peter

 

[the_traveler]

The grade crossings have bells that sound whenever the gates are sown, I have been upon many trains where my window was right next to the gates, and I heard the bells going throughout the stop!

i don't know how many diamond crossings there are, but I find many are in Illinois - probably 90-95+% of those I've seen on Amtrak!

 

[fairviewroad]

I'm not familiar with any diamond crossings that have bells and whistles. This by definition is a diamond crossing: http://www.sandpointtrainstation.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sandpoint_diamond01.jpg

peter

I assume what the OP means is that you "hear" a diamond crossing in the sense that you hear the clickety-crunch of the

rail car crossing over the crossing track. But of course you also hear this whenever you pass over a siding switch or a

crossover switch, which would be far, far more common than a diamond crossing.

 

[amtkstn]

A diamond crossing when where two railroads cross at the same level. It is known as a diamond due to the fact that a 45 degree angle looks like a diamond shape in the middle.

 

[user 1215]

All this confusion... Wait - you're not a politician, are you?

 

[George Harris]

I'm not familiar with any diamond crossings that have bells and whistles. This by definition is a diamond crossing: http://www.sandpointtrainstation.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/sandpoint_diamond01.jpg

peter

Good picture!

Likewise concerning diamonds with bells and whistles. Control of movement over diamond crossings is one of the functions of railroad signal systems. In the simplest of setups, the move is not controlled by the dispatcher, but by an approach circuit on a first come - first served basis. Even simpler, and formerly at least, and commonly found in low speed tracks and low volume tracks is a four way stop. This method has also been used in the past in some very complex crossings. One example, now much simplified was south of Memphis Central Station where four tracks of the Illinois Central, which I think could also be used under trackage rights by some of the other companies operating into Memphis, crossed six tracks of various ownerships that included all the railroads operating into the city. At the other end of the scale would be crossings that had manned towers controlling moves over the crossing. These commonly also controlled connections between the crossing tracks. For some of these at least an approaching train had to sound a specific whistle signal to tell the tower operator whcih track he wanted.

 

[battalion51]

In areas that are designated as "Quiet Zones" (meaning the train is required to NOT sound their horn unless there is an obvious obstruction) usually the bells stay on the entire time a crossing is activated since it would not be obvious to a person who is blind that the train is bearing down on them. Also, from what I've seen, crossings where there are lights but no gates the bells tend to operate continuously.

 

[X]

The question of the bells staying on or off when the gate arms are down is actually a matter of state law!

 

[NW cannonball]

Actually, diamond crossings have a distinctive sound, not like other turnouts. See the picture.

At typical turnout switches only one side of wheels crosses what is called the "frog"

On High Speed Rail - like shinkansen, TGV, whatever -- this "frog" on turnout has "moving point" - so no drop-out in track - no "bump-de-bump" no steel on steel hammering.

See the picture of "diamond". See the discoloration by where the rails have dropouts - holes - great-big-"thump-thump"-places where steel wheels drop down-and-up real quick.

The wheels hammer and break those small slots in the track really bad.

A mile from my house is a "double diamond" where a 2-track main crosses a single track at the level, like in the picture.

I can hear every train that crosses it - more easily in the winter when less foliage to absorb the sound.

But the diamond sound is unique - every truck hits with a clear "bu-bump--bu-bump" all four wheels on a truck hit the diamond, totally unlike a normal switch frog.

And, like in the picture, see the wear-marks and iron-dust oxidation, a diamond crossing needs mucho maintenance. So much hard pounding. Unique noise.

Never ever happens on any HSR at speed ever. Can't use such a crude hammering rail design on HSR.

 

[jis]

Actually, diamond crossings have a distinctive sound, not like other turnouts. See the picture. At typical turnout switches only one side of wheels crosses what is called the "frog"

On High Speed Rail - like shinkansen, TGV, whatever -- this "frog" on turnout has "moving point" - so no drop-out in track - no "bump-de-bump" no steel on steel hammering.

You don't have to go to foreign HSRs. All of the interlockings on Amtrak NEC are slated to get moving point frogs. AFAIK the following already have them between NY and Philly: Bergen, Erie, Lack, Allied, Portal, Swift, Hunter (partly), Haynes, Union, Iselin, Menlo, County and Morris. In the next three years Lane, Midway, Ham and Fair are slated to get them. I believe all main line crossovers between New Haven and Boston have them too. Additionally NJT has installed them at many frequently used interlockings like Kearny, Harrison.
BTW a more complex evolution from diamond crossings are diamond crossing with single or double slips. You see a lot of double slip diamonds at Penn Station in New York where platform tracks connect into the double ladder tracks.

Incidentally I have also seen moving frog diamonds.

 

[the_traveler]

Do they go "rib-bit"? :blush: :giggle:

 

[jis]

Do they go "rib-bit"? :blush: :giggle:

Actually they do! Instead of going a loud clickety-clack, they go a very gentle and quiet rib-bit! You have to pay attention to hear it though.

 

[NW cannonball]

You know what we are talking about - I think I know what we are talking about --'

But - If any of us starts talking about moving frog diamonds in polite company - or worse - in the psychiatrist's space --

Some people might think of "reality problem" -- moving frogs and diamonds -- obviously some weird - whatever - or was that "Frogs with Diamonds move me?" or -- -- duh -- huh what was that? The wonders of technology - and tehnospeak.

 

[chakk]

Back to the original question: I am not aware that anyone has actually tallied up the number of diamond crossings on the CZ route. I know that there is at least one in the Denver area. And perhaps still one in the Sacramento area. But beyond that, I can't say. and probably most would be eliminated by the owning railroads, if possible, due to the high maintenance and signalling requirements.

 

[Agent]

There is a diamond in Ottumwa, Iowa where the California Zephyr passes over the Canadian Pacific/Iowa, Chicago, & Eastern. As far as I know, this is the only diamond on the Zephyr's route in Iowa.

And since the sound of diamonds has been mentioned:

 

[MattW]

Second best sound in railroading is the repated four quick taps as a pair of trucks races over a diamond.

First best is an approaching K5LA!

 

[manchacrr]

A prime example of a very busy diamond crossing is the Colton Diamond in Colton, CA. It is where the BNSF double-track transcon line crosses the UP Sunset Route, also double track, on their way into the Los Angeles metro area. I have passed through the diamond multiple times on Amtrak. Two routes cross here: the Southwest Chief on the BNSF and the Sunset Limited on the UP.

However, the Colton Diamond will be disappearing soon as the crossing is currently undergoing a grade separation project with a flyover being constructed to take the UP tracks over the BNSF.

 

[user 1215]

Am I just not appreciating diamonds enough? I thought they were practically in every industrial rail yard. Not as common as switches, but next to.

There are diamonds on both ends of the Savannah station. On the North side, the Silver Meteor, Palmetto and Autotrain go through a diamond as they make their way towards Yemmasse and the Silver Star hits a different one as it heads off towards Columbia. South of the station, there is a diamond that is crossed by both Silvers and the Autotrain if they are given the Eastern approach. The diamond is missed if they take the Western approach.

 

[RampWidget]

You know what we are talking about - I think I know what we are talking about --'
But - If any of us starts talking about moving frog diamonds in polite company - or worse - in the psychiatrist's space --

Some people might think of "reality problem" -- moving frogs and diamonds -- obviously some weird - whatever - or was that "Frogs with Diamonds move me?" or -- -- duh -- huh what was that? The wonders of technology - and tehnospeak.

I can't resist adding the point that repairs to frogs othen require the use of a torch... either the cutting or welding variety...