Switch part names

[Alice]

In Fullerton yesterday with sportbiker and Whooz, we closely inspected a switch. Sportbiker pointed out the part called a "frog." Does anyone know where this name came from?

 

[GG-1]

In Fullerton yesterday with sportbiker and Whooz, we closely inspected a switch. Sportbiker pointed out the part called a "frog." Does anyone know where this name came from?

Aloha

Because that where the train jumps the track. I may be silly but stranger reasons for names exist. In all the years I have never heard an explanation.

 

[PetalumaLoco]

From wikipedia;

"This term "frog" is derived from the appearance of the triangular assemblage of rails which recalls the frog of a horse's hoof."

All we need to know now is what the heck the frog of a horse's hoof is.

 

[sportbiker]

From wikipedia;"This term "frog" is derived from the appearance of the triangular assemblage of rails which recalls the frog of a horse's hoof."

...and that's supposed to clear thing up? :blink:

 

[sky12065]

From wikipedia;"This term "frog" is derived from the appearance of the triangular assemblage of rails which recalls the frog of a horse's hoof."

...and that's supposed to clear thing up? :blink:

It's got my mind all frogged up! But then again, I've been in a frog for some years now! :huh:

 

[the_traveler]

It's starting to get froggy! :lol: So I looked things up.

A railway frog is employed where one track crosses another. For example, in a turnout, a switch will selectively switch a train from a main track to a turnout track. As the turnout track progresses in a curve from the switch, one of the rails must cross a rail of the main track. The junction assembly at such crossing is called a frog. If two tracks cross each other, four frogs are required, one at each intersection of one rail with another.

and

In the 1800's in Scotland there was a club called Society of the Horseman's Word. Horse trainers, blacksmiths, and other horseman would join to learn horsemanship skills. Elder members of this masonic-like society were reputed to have supernormal abilities to understand and control horses. Apparently this Scottish club was only one of several such societies during this time (for horsemen and people with other interests).
Supposedly the society passed down from horseman to horseman a secret word or phrase that would control horses... a word that, when spoken to a horse, would instantly make him follow every comand or wish. There was a demand for those that knew the Word. Such an individual could make a wild horse calm and manageable, or a stubborn horse agreable.

These "horse whisperers" as they were called practiced both horsemanship and witchcraft. Initiation ceremonies included reading passages from the Bible backwards in order to summon the devil. Passwords, handshakes, and salutes were used to keep their rituals and practices secret.

They carried talismans and charms for good luck, and used oils and scents to influence horses. They would use a strong scent to 'jade' a horse, or make it refuse to move. Other oils and herbs would do the opposite, and restore the horse back to normal or have a calming influence on the horse. For this reason, they were also called 'horse-witches'.

One of the most important charms that they carried was a bone of a frog or toad. Part of the initiation ceremony required novices to kill a toad, and leave it on a whitethorn bush for 24 hours to dry. Then, the toad was put in an anthill and left for a month, so the ants would eat everything off but the bones. It was removed from the anthill and tossed into a running stream during a full moon. The horseman would watch the bones come apart in the water until the pelvis bone floated free (it's said to have floated upstream against the current). This bone is very similar in shape to the horse's frog. It was kept by the horseman and supposedly used to bewitch or control horses.

This, then, could be the reason that part of the horse's hoof is named after a frog; this almost forgotten society with its bizarre rituals is the only link I can find that relates the two.

It's the best I could do. My mind is all wet - I need to cross a few railroad frogs!

 

[AlanB]

And that's a wonderful definition and explanation of what a frog does, Traveler. However it does little to answer Alice's question of "why is it called a frog?"

 

[sky12065]

In Fullerton yesterday with sportbiker and Whooz, we closely inspected a switch. Sportbiker pointed out the part called a "frog." Does anyone know where this name came from?

The question here could be as simple as the old question of "Whooz buried in Grant's Tomb?" with the answer to Alice's question being... (drum roll) ...from a frog of course! My answer's quite riveting, isn't it, or is it eough to make one croak? :lol:

So, anyone know a frog's favorite song?

 

[Ryan]

"It isn't easy being green"???

 

[TrackWalker]

True story. Or, as Dave Barry would say, "Really! I'm not making this up!"

A couple of years back a track inspector derailed his hirail truck on a switch. There was minor damage to the hirail wheels and it needed to be worked on.

So he calls ARI, a contractor back east who manages authorizations for repairs on our fleet of vehicles to get an OK for repairs.

TI- Hi. I need to get my truck inspected and repaired.

ARI- What happened?

TI- I derailed my truck on a frog.

pause

ARI- A frog?

TI- Yes.

ARI- How can a frog derail you?

TI- It happens sometimes.

ARI- A frog cannot derail a truck.

TI- Yes it can.

ARI- You're lying.

TI- Who you calling a liar?!

ARI- A truck CANNOT be derailed by a frog.

TI- Listen here you.......

Anyway, the conversation degenerated from that point on until a manager was brought in and explained to the ARI worker what a frog was.

The track inspector later sent the worker a small green toy frog for his desk.

 

[AlanB]

Now that was a ribiting story. :lol: err, riveting.

 

[AKA]

Just a note. I used to pick up frog parts at The Cleveland Frog and Crossing Co. on bessemer ave in Cleveland. The place was 100 years old and they ground the parts to a finish from overhead leather drive belts. The belts worked off an overhead cam type device. It was like walking back in time.

 

[Everydaymatters]

I did some unscientific research and found that the frog on the bottom of a horse's hoof resembles a railroad frog in that they both are in a "V" form.

Phew! Lost sleep over that. Now I can sleep again.

 

[jis]

Without doing any research at all, I had just assumed that it is called a frog because it resembled a frog with its legs splayed out, with a little bit of imagination thrown in I must admit. Oh well....

 

[TrackWalker]

Phew! Lost sleep over that. Now I can sleep again.

Which then begs the question as to why is the bottom of a horse's hoof called a frog.

 

[sky12065]

"It isn't easy being green"???

That's the favorite of those frogs that don't have any identity crisis. Frogs that think that they're a rabbit instead of a ribbit favor...

AT THE HOP (Click to Play)

 

[GG-1]

"It isn't easy being green"???

That's the favorite of those frogs that don't have any identity crisis. Frogs that think that they're a rabbit instead of a ribbit favor...

AT THE HOP (Click to Play)

Ouch back then thats how I dressed, no wonder I havent worn a tie in 9 years and that was for my daughters wedding.

Aloha and Mahalo

 

[Neil_M]

Now that was a ribiting story. :lol: err, riveting.

Now, I thought about saying its called a frog because it's held together with ribits, but I thought better of it and that it might possibly lower the seriousness of the topic..

Some people have no shame.......

 

[George Harris]

Without doing any research at all, I had just assumed that it is called a frog because it resembled a frog with its legs splayed out, with a little bit of imagination thrown in I must admit. Oh well....

This is the explanation that I heard years ago when I first got into the railroading game.

Unlikely to have anything to do with anything from the British world, as they do not call these things frogs. They call them crossings. Say "frog" to a British track guy and you will find that he will not know what you are talking about unless he has already been exposed to Americanisms.

 

[AKA]

A Brit would be looking around for a French person.

 

[Neil_M]

A Brit would be looking around for a French person.

And what about Fishplates? (Assiette de poisson!) :lol:

 

[Everydaymatters]

Phew! Lost sleep over that. Now I can sleep again.

Which then begs the question as to why is the bottom of a horse's hoof called a frog.

OH No! Another sleepless night.

After more unscientific research, all I could find is that pelvis bone of a frog is shaped like that part of the horse hoof which is called a frog.

But I did learn that the frog is the part of the hoof that hits the ground and cushions the step. I thought that was interesting. But then, it doesn't take much to get me interested in something. :lol:

 

[PetalumaLoco]

From http://chestofbooks.com/animals/horses/Dis...I-The-Hoof.html

"Inferior Aspect Of Hoof. A The Inferior Face Of Horny Sole; B, Inferior Border Of The Wall; C, Body Or Cushion Of The Frog; D, Median Lacuna Of The Frog; E, Lateral Lacuna Of The Frog; F, The Bar; G, The Quarter; H, The Point Of The Frog; I The Heel."

Interesting that there is not only a frog ( c ) here, but a point ( h ).

Track frog;

 

[TrackWalker]

Track frog;

A second generation left hand spring frog at that, too.

First Generation still had a 3/4" gap at the point of frog.

 

[George Harris]

Track frog;

A second generation left hand spring frog at that, too.

First Generation still had a 3/4" gap at the point of frog.

And on concrete ties, as well. Where is this thing? Is it possibly in the Caltrain line (San Francisco to San Jose)? Thye have spring frogs up to No. 20. First time I had ever seen one bigger than a No. 10!