I tend to forget that you don't just know all these things on the top of your head, Danny. 😄 I appreciate when you're open about the details you don't know and consult with experts to fill in the gaps.
AND, you never talk down to us BUT you certainly make a (surprisingly) involved answer easily understood with marvelous examples - keep up the wonderful work
@@geeceediam4566 That is one thing that makes Danny's videos so damned nice to watch - he talks to his viewers like he's talking to friends and family.
Over the years, I've come to realize how prevalent and extensive the American RR system actually was. My schooling let me down to this fact, whether through history or social studies. I knew that there "was" a RR in my home town. But as the conversation would re-emerge, there was facts that changed. Then I found out that there was 2 railroads in my home town. The elders just assumed that I knew that we had 2 RR's in town. I did not. As I continue to focus on railroad history, I'm finding even more railroad history that I never even knew existed.
@@lancereagan3046 The USA has such an amazing history of RR. Too bad car-centric design won. Had the USA doubled-down on RR you would have the world's most advanced rail-based public transit network.
I’m a retired nurse from the city who knows next to nothing about trains. Your channel is so interesting to me that I become excited when I see that you have posted! Thank you for the research you perform and your ease of making train information understandable to a novice like me! Keep up the great work!
Aren't his videos amazing? That's so cool that you've discovered the joy of trains later in life. I've loved them since I was 3 or 4 years old. To this day, the sound of a train horn, no matter how distant, excites me. I only wish that I knew more about them. That's why we have Mr Harmon!
Great video as usual! It is important to note that railroad companies prefer to meet railway lines at an angle smaller (or greater) than 90 degrees. At at a right angle, both wheels on the axle jump the gap at the same time, which increases the wear and the forces acting on the diamond. At an angle, only one wheel jumps the gap at one time.
That's also where to my understanding the name comes from. If it's got a non-90° angle, you'll see a sorta diamond-shape on the inside (instead of just a square).
@@skendermakota2381It's funny, though, because motorcycles are instructed to always cross railroad tracks at exactly a 90 degree angle, even if it means swerving a bit within the lane upon approach. This is because motorcycles only have one wheel per axle, so there's a greater chance of the wheel getting stuck in the rut of the train crossing it it crosses at a shallow angle.
What a Great Subject and it’s Safe to Say that NO ONE has Ever Covered a Subject Like 👍 this in the same Great Detail of ALL of your Videos. ALL about Facts. 👍
5:10 what's even cooler to me is that the AC tower wasn't just closer to the track, it was on the opposite corner of the diamonds and craned across when the Union Station Association acquired it. Great video Danny!
Danny, of all the train videos I watch (and there are a bunch), you are clearly my favorite. Your attention to education is outstanding. As a life long rail fan, I have learned so much that I never had any idea about before watching your videos. You're a real asset to our railfanning community and I'm sure glad YT has created the platform for you to share your broadcasting skills with us. Thank you!!!
Mr. D. Harmon speaks near perfect, American english. Enunciation, tone, accent, inflection, rhythm . Not a single word did i misunderstand. A dissappearing trait . . . ☆
Dan, you did an excellent job in answering the viewers question. I'm a retired conductor, 43 years of service, started out as a tower man. You are indeed a professional; properly researched for a proper answer. I thoroughly enjoy your channel.✝🚂😎
You haven’t had your mind blown until you’ve been watching one of Danny’s videos on RUclips AND out of nowhere you hear him narrating a commercial on cable television at the same time.
Hi I love you videos very helpful informative too and just gray pictures of the trains and I really do enjoy your videos God bless you and your family and keep them coming I really did it to get enjoyment out of them keep them coming
Very cool video as always. We enjoyed watching. In my 25 years on the Canadian Pacific Railroad of course now CPKC I was incharge of maintaining a diamond most of my career that crosses the Canadian National in Duplainville Wisconsin which used to be Milwaukee Road crossing the Soo Line back in the day. Us at the Canadian Pacific were in control of the diamonds and maintaining them. The Wisconsin Central now Canadian National MoW crews would come out and help us on big projects at the Duplainville diamonds then the maintenance would be billed equally. Have a wonderful rest of your thursday evening.(Steve)
Thanks for the shout out and yeah, I normally get the Ribs with Baked Beans and Potato Salad at Grangers. I consider it a fair trade on recommendations as one of your previous videos clued me in to the excellent Oakwood Express in Wildwood, a normal stop for me now when fanning the Wildwood Subdivision. A few other local recommendations, if you're ever in the Auburndale area in the morning the Pantry Diner is a great stop for breakfast and if you hit up the West Lake Wales Branch for the Florida Midland Railroad, I have two great places to stop off the Scenic 17 Highway. The Crooked Bass is a Bar and Grill Restaurant in Babson Park that has great Ribeye Steaks, Prime Rib, Fried Shrimp, Wings, and Burgers. Finally, Frostbite Ice Cream in Frostproof is great for grab and go with burgers and milkshakes.
Your videos always teach me things i didn't know I wanted to know. I also enjoy the restaurant reviews. I may never travel to Florida, but if I do I'll know where to eat.
I think it was around 1983 when I was a boy in Canton Illinois. A man working for the Burlington Northern came to service the diamond that crossed the Toledo Peoria and Western. The procedure he performed was to grind the wear points of the diamond down past whatever hairline cracks could be detected. It was quite a bit of material that was removed, at least 2 inches back on each side in every direction. I was really surprised when he let the local pass by during the operation. After the grinding he fired up the welder and placed bead on top of bead, then ground it down till it was like new again. It took him two days.
Such a cool and interesting video. I've lived in Orlando all my life and I never knew Tampa put in a streetcar system in the 2000s. Honestly more cities should have them, but we all know who screwed that pooch. [Glares at automotive companies] That barbecue joint looks legitimately awesome.
That barbecue place is awsome, I have gotten food there many times in the past. Just wish it wasn't so far from where I now live. Used to live just around the corner from there.
I grew up about 1mile from the Port Reading NJ diamond railroad crossing. Back then, there was a dual track intersected by a single track leading to and from the Port Reading rail yard. What a racket it made when standing nearby. Ironically, it was somewhat reassuring to hear off in the distance on hot summer nights as the sound would carry across town and in through an open bedroom window. If you caught the start of it, you could count the number of cars as they passed over the diamond. My way of counting sheep.
Great video as always Danny! I wanted to mention a rule we have at NS for automatic interlockings. When approaching a signal governing an automatic interlocking at a speed of 25 mph or less, movement must proceed towards the interlocking prepared to stop (similar to operating on an Approach) even if the signal can be seen as displaying a favorable indication. The reason for this is the timing system you mentioned. When moving slowly towards an interlocking, it is always possible that the time may run out as you are approaching. This means you could go from having a Clear straight to a Stop within seconds. This rule exists to prevent crews from potentially passing a signal at danger. If you do not comply with this rule and approach an interlocking, the signal drops, and you get enforced, you will still be found at fault for failure to operate in accordance with the rules and will be thrown out on the street and taken to investigation. Auto Interlockings are nifty but if you don’t understand all of the rules that go with them, you can very easily end up in trouble! Hope this information was helpful!
Although not stated in your analysis, the rule must presume that approaching the crossing at a speed greater than 25 mph will insure the train will preserve the occupancy required by the system logic and foul the track circuit protection against the opposing track, but a train that approaches at a speed of less than 25 mph will be able to stop prior to fouling, if an opposing train calls for a signal. The logic is a bit more complicated, just think "if then, but".
@@glennfoster2423 that is exactly why the rule exists. If you are going faster than 25 mph, the signal will not time out and drop. A speed of greater than 25 mph when approaching an automatic interlocking protected by NS Rule 280 will preserve your occupancy.
Danny I worked as a Train Operator in several towers in the Cincinnati area for the Chessie System back in the late 70’s on into the 80’s when the mergers created CSX. Man what great memories. Thanks for your hard work to educate us RailFans. 😎👍🏾
We’ve got one of these - Cae Fawb, near Porthmadog - over the Atlantic in the UK (specifically in Wales), with the added point of note that the two train lines have two different track gauges! The first line is the Cambrian Line, at the standard 4ft 8+1/2in, which runs along much of the coast of mid-Wales. It sees approximately one passenger service in each direction every two hours (under the current timetable you have two trains, once in each direction, within about twenty minutes, and then a long gap between trains). The second is the narrow-gauge Welsh Highland Railway (WHR), which is a heritage steam railway that runs for 25 miles on 1ft 11+1/2in track. From what I could see on the timetable, I make it 5 trains per day in each direction during the height of summer, and less later on and earlier in the year when there is less tourism. They’re timed so that they reach the crossing in the long gaps between main line trains wherever possible. The original WHR (which the current heritage railway rebuilt and restored) had a similar flat crossing at the same location, but I could not find details on past operations. Today, the WHR trains have to stop prior to the crossing and phone up the signalling centre for the region. If they get permission to proceed, all signals on the Cambrian Line are set to danger, the WHR train has a set window in which it must move, and then the driver/guard reports that they have cleared the crossing again. Electronic signalling systems have made this process much faster in the last decade and a half.
I was really looking forward to this video. From 1960 to 1969 i was a towerman on the Chicago Terminal Division of the Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific and while there were junctions and yards there were a lot of diamonds. My favorite tower was Joliet UD controlling at that time 16 diamonds the RI double track main and two yard track coach yard crossing double track Santa Fe and the double track Chicago & Alton with a lot of crossovers. Dispatchers had a little work on the division issuing slow orders, working one shift at a tower that had a CTC 😅machine as well as a conventional interlocking machine 17:41
WOW!!! I never suspected that diamonds were so complicated. I thought trains just cross them when there was no other train coming (much like cars at a 4-way intersection).
I'm pretty sure there are some examples of railroad crossings that are operated like that, i.e. without any signaling system/without any coordination between both lines, thus transferring the responsibility for mutual exclusive usage of the diamond to the train drivers by visual checking for trains possibly arriving on the other line - but this, of course, drastically limits the maximum speed or even requires to come to a full stop in front of the crossing
An intersting setup. This is what was in place in the early 90's on RJ Corman, Cleveland line. Outside and south of Brewster, Ohio, RJ Corman (ex B&O) ran north.nJust north of North Beach City, they ran into a manual tilting target signal. It was usually set for Corman movements as Corman and Ohio Central used Corman track to go to Warwick, a CSX interchange. Just before the tilting target was a connection track from Ohio Central (ex N&W and NKP branch line) to Corman. Anyway, just north of that Corman had an interlocking to cross the Wheeling & Lake Erie (again ex N&W and NKP mainline). The interlocking had B&O CPL's guarding their movement. Only STOP or PROCEED. Sometimes we had to manually run a timer or call W&LE to operate the plant. Now the interesting part. Corman would call Ohio Central, to obtain permission to enter their track, to access W&LE Brewster yard. Corman also held the block permission on its own track, where the Ohio Central connection was. At the time there was only 1 Corman train a day and it had the permission. Corman would stop at the tilting target, manually move it for Ohio Central track movement, then proceeds the Brewster mainline switch and then call W&LE for permission to enter their main. Technically, we should have our track rights anulled when we left our own mainline, but since we were the only train out there, and if Ohio Central wanted to use our track to go to Warwick, they would have to call our train and our yard office for permission. Then Corman would annul our orders and re-issue them to Ohio Central. In essence we were short cutting on those permissions, since we were the only train there. I'm pretty sure it has all been changed by now, but was always odd, to have to get our own permission to cross our own track.
Another award winning video.🏆 Appreciate the time you take to do your homework. I can relate to that in my job before I retired. A one hour presentation can take numerous hours of prep time. Always look forward to your videos. Once again your taught an old dog a new trick! 👍😁🇺🇲
There was once an interesting crossing in San Luis Obispo County, California where the Southern Pacific crossed the narrow gauge Pacific Coast Railway at Edna. (A standard gauge / narrow gauge crossing being rare, if not unique, outside of dual gauge yard trackage.) The little Pacific Coast Railway had been there first and, apparently, this put the burden on the Southern Pacific to build a tower there and staff it. Also, by being the first railroad there, the little Pacific Coast Railway had priority over Southern Pacific trains. It is my understanding that once the Southern Pacific was having maybe 25 trains a day and the Pacific Coast Railway was down to maybe two a week, that the Southern Pacific unilaterally started to give itself priority.
As always, this was a "diamond" of a video. I always smile when I get a notification saying you have posted a new video because I know it's going to make the day that much better. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Danny!! 😊
One of few diamonds in my neck of the woods still have tilt board signals protecting the crossing. First you pull up and come to a complete stop. You have to get permission from the dispatcher to cross and line the signal up for your movement. Then drop a 15 minute fusee on both sides of diamond and then position the tilt board signal for your movement. All the while looking out for any other train movement from the other line. But...they rarely see or even meet other over the lightly travelled routes. Be safe out there and thanks for sharing some good information.
This is sort of like the "five minute rule". Where specified, a train desiring to enter a main track in signalized territory an employee may open a switch, attend the switch (to line it back normal should a train on the main track approach), and after 5 minutes (or time specified by the railroad based on maximum authorized speed) enter the main track.
Being a railfan I tell people that trains on rails, let alone" Diamonds" see the tracks go down when train wheels are on them. That's a lot of weight at one time. One of our spots is at a crossing. Another cool spot if you can find them are former stations that are no longer in use. Usually a Heritage Org. or similar body maintains them. Very close to trains & usually have tables or benches to sit at.
Excellent presentation and both informative and easy to follow along. Just off Milwaukee's downtown a 2 track streetcar line crossed the Milwaukee Road's 2 track approach to the depot and was at a bit of an angle and I believe set in bricks. Because of their later arrivals interurbans frequently did have to build a bridge over or under the steam Road especially in the Midwest. Thanks for the top-notch presentation
@distantsignal I like how informative you are and people ask great questions. I'm gonna try to work for the railroad. Can't wait to mention you when I do come to Florida.
As a Foodie I appreciate the places you recommend to eat. When train watching I get hungry! Will have to try Granger in Lakeland, Florida. Love the info on diamonds. What a gem!
Absolutely incredible video. I've always wondered how they controlled movements on those just never thought to ask. Always look forward to seeing your videos. I can't wait for the next one.
G'Day from Western Australia ! I was a Loco technician from 1979-1983. I've never seen a diamond, per se, so I found this very interesting. Thank you Danny !
Thanks for the ton of information. I'll try to incorporate some of that in my model railroad. Someone in Fostoria Ohio has a steaming channel of the dispatchers there and it can be crazy.
Hey, Danny. Glad to see you again and teach us other railfans about the diamonds. You do an excellent job. Take care, Danny, and I will be looking forward to seeing you soon. Robert over and out.
Danny just another great show. I come from a Railroad town but now live in Dunedin,Florida so no train action here. I always like you part of the show where you talk about where you eat.
Really cool to see how you guys do things in the US, especially how all of the different companies play together. I’m in Ireland, all of the rails and trains are owned and operated by Iarnród Éireann, which is a subsidiary of the state-owned company Córas Iompair Éireann. Definitely streamlines the process for us when it’s all one company operating on all of the rails, although there is a small exception on some of the Inter-city routes crossing the border to Northern Ireland. Here we also use an unusually wide track gauge of 1,600mm/5 ft 3 in. Love these videos and how it highlights the differences and similarities of railways throughout the world! Keep ‘em coming!
The diamond in Tampa, with the curves to protect the tram line from trains reminded me of something similar in Toronto. The streetcars and subways run on the unique TTC gauge, which is not used anywhere else in the world. The supposed reason for that was to keep trains off the streetcar tracks. However, the new LRT lines going in now use standard gauge.
This channel has made me start railfanning my local railroad, the Portland and Western, and its Toledo Hauler train that runs frequently in the small lumber town of Toledo, OR where I recently moved to. Also Danny you should know whenever I play your videos and you say "Hello again railfans" my girlfriend grins from ear to ear and says "Hi Danny!" Love the channel and I always immediately watch your new videos whenever I see you upload them!
Thanks for the refresher! I watched your video just to see if I could learn something. Low & behold I had never heard of an O.W.L.S. Crossing diamond. I retired 10 years ago from the U.P.'s Spring Dispatch Center in the Houston Service District. When it comes to who controls the diamond, all territories that I ever worked the diamonds were controlled by the first railroad at that location, going back to the original railroad.
Great video, Danny! Always fascinating hardware on the RR... there are some crazy diamonds up north and even was one in Miami when the Seaboard crossed six FEC tracks to access one of the old docks.
Man I think about all the research involved to put this together. I have always loved trains. Looking at those diamonds is interesting. Seeing how railroads had to cooperate, to cross trains safely. Tryibg to imagine the maintenance involved, it has to be staggering. Keep up the good work!!
We railfans are all learners! None of us knows everything. Railroading is very complicated industry and there's always something to learn! (One of the reasons it's great to be a railfan!)
Thanks for this excellent video! The only down side was that it left me feeling hungry again after seeing that delicious food. The steel in those diamond crossings must be something else! Good Lord, what a beating they take! Thanks again!🙏
Great informative video Danny! I actually filmed a short line and CSX meeting at a diamond, and it was the short line that went first. Somehow, the CSX crew seemed impatient having to wait for their turn.
Distant Signal is one of the few channels for which I will like a video as soon as it starts playing - because I KNOW it will be awesome! Plus the always-welcome BBQ lunch. Thanks Danny! 👍👍
Danny, many years ago, in my neck of the woods (Fort Wayne, Indiana), two of the Easterly and Westerly Railroads crossed each other in an Industrial district. The Pennsylvania, and the Wabash, basically changed places -VIA- and 'X' diamond; where one was moving to the Northeast, and the other to the Southwest. One old Pennsy conductor had told me that the Wabash had absolute control of the diamond. If anyone from the Pennsy had irritated the dispatcher/controller at the Wabash tower, he could hold up the Pennsy train in a retaliation move as punishment and placed that train behind schedule.
Great video as always Danny. Watching the close-ups of the diamond (which were great) I noticed a loose bolt moving around. I know you said these required more maintenance but it would be interesting in a part 2 if there is any video of service work or the time table they use to service them. For example, do they have crews that tighten the bolts periodically? Thanks again!
The amount of knowledge you have is priceless Danny.. excellent info and presentation, as always. Im a 50 year retired signalman /conductor . You could easily work at almost any Rail job if you wanted. Youd prob be better than alot of the shmoes working now. Lol. Great informative video as always
Years ago I regularly watched the live cam at Rochelle. The diamond was pounded. I watched as trains bounced and bobed and weaved accross the diamond. Then some maintaince began. Finally work got serious on the diamond and new electrics. The new signal bridge (off cam at the time). Now things there look smooth as trains roll through. Track workers success.
Your videos are great. I’ll throw in my experience with railroad diamonds. I briefly worked for New England Central in 2005, qualified from Brattleboro VT to East Alburg VT. In that territory, we ran through Bellows Falls VT, where the Vermont Rail System crosses via a diamond. NECR controls the diamond, and VTR must contact the NECR dispatcher to request the signal to cross. My understanding is that the Rutland RR (now VTR) was there first, and the Central Vermont RR (Now NECR) wanted to build their route across the existing Rutland route. The agreement going forward was for CV to maintain and control the diamond.
The legend is back
Yes!
We always wait impatiently for the next video.
Oh yes for sure 😊
Fr
Fr
Danny Harmon is a True Class Act. His Railfanning Knowledge is Priceless. Thank you, Danny. 👍🙏
I tend to forget that you don't just know all these things on the top of your head, Danny. 😄 I appreciate when you're open about the details you don't know and consult with experts to fill in the gaps.
AND, you never talk down to us BUT you certainly make a (surprisingly) involved answer easily understood with marvelous examples - keep up the wonderful work
@@geeceediam4566 That is one thing that makes Danny's videos so damned nice to watch - he talks to his viewers like he's talking to friends and family.
Over the years, I've come to realize how prevalent and extensive the American RR system actually was. My schooling let me down to this fact, whether through history or social studies. I knew that there "was" a RR in my home town. But as the conversation would re-emerge, there was facts that changed. Then I found out that there was 2 railroads in my home town. The elders just assumed that I knew that we had 2 RR's in town. I did not. As I continue to focus on railroad history, I'm finding even more railroad history that I never even knew existed.
@@lancereagan3046 The USA has such an amazing history of RR. Too bad car-centric design won. Had the USA doubled-down on RR you would have the world's most advanced rail-based public transit network.
I’m a retired nurse from the city who knows next to nothing about trains. Your channel is so interesting to me that I become excited when I see that you have posted! Thank you for the research you perform and your ease of making train information understandable to a novice like me! Keep up the great work!
Aren't his videos amazing? That's so cool that you've discovered the joy of trains later in life. I've loved them since I was 3 or 4 years old. To this day, the sound of a train horn, no matter how distant, excites me. I only wish that I knew more about them. That's why we have Mr Harmon!
Very interesting
Great video as usual! It is important to note that railroad companies prefer to meet railway lines at an angle smaller (or greater) than 90 degrees. At at a right angle, both wheels on the axle jump the gap at the same time, which increases the wear and the forces acting on the diamond. At an angle, only one wheel jumps the gap at one time.
That's also where to my understanding the name comes from. If it's got a non-90° angle, you'll see a sorta diamond-shape on the inside (instead of just a square).
This is what I do when I drive my car over speed bumps, same thing happens to car axles if they hit anything full on 90 degrees
@@Sp4mMe I think it's called a diamond because of how expensive they are to install.
Thank you for this comment; it makes a lot of sense.
@@skendermakota2381It's funny, though, because motorcycles are instructed to always cross railroad tracks at exactly a 90 degree angle, even if it means swerving a bit within the lane upon approach. This is because motorcycles only have one wheel per axle, so there's a greater chance of the wheel getting stuck in the rut of the train crossing it it crosses at a shallow angle.
What a Great Subject and it’s Safe to Say that NO ONE has Ever Covered a Subject Like 👍 this in the same Great Detail of ALL of your Videos. ALL about Facts. 👍
5:10 what's even cooler to me is that the AC tower wasn't just closer to the track, it was on the opposite corner of the diamonds and craned across when the Union Station Association acquired it. Great video Danny!
HOORAY! New video from Danny, as excellent as always. Thumbs up from Mexico 🇲🇽
Danny, of all the train videos I watch (and there are a bunch), you are clearly my favorite. Your attention to education is outstanding. As a life long rail fan, I have learned so much that I never had any idea about before watching your videos. You're a real asset to our railfanning community and I'm sure glad YT has created the platform for you to share your broadcasting skills with us. Thank you!!!
Mr. D. Harmon speaks near perfect, American english.
Enunciation, tone, accent, inflection, rhythm .
Not a single word did i misunderstand.
A dissappearing trait . . .
☆
Funny enough, last night I was watching an old Union Pacific employee training video discussing interlocking procedures. Great timing Danny!
Dan, you did an excellent job in answering the viewers question. I'm a retired conductor, 43 years of service, started out as a tower man. You are indeed a professional; properly researched for a proper answer. I thoroughly enjoy your channel.✝🚂😎
You haven’t had your mind blown until you’ve been watching one of Danny’s videos on RUclips AND out of nowhere you hear him narrating a commercial on cable television at the same time.
Hi I love you videos very helpful informative too and just gray pictures of the trains and I really do enjoy your videos God bless you and your family and keep them coming I really did it to get enjoyment out of them keep them coming
Very cool video as always. We enjoyed watching. In my 25 years on the Canadian Pacific Railroad of course now CPKC I was incharge of maintaining a diamond most of my career that crosses the Canadian National in Duplainville Wisconsin which used to be Milwaukee Road crossing the Soo Line back in the day. Us at the Canadian Pacific were in control of the diamonds and maintaining them. The Wisconsin Central now Canadian National MoW crews would come out and help us on big projects at the Duplainville diamonds then the maintenance would be billed equally. Have a wonderful rest of your thursday evening.(Steve)
Great job Danny, another fantastic video!
Love the videos Danny. Always fun to see how different parts of the railroad work!
Thanks for the shout out and yeah, I normally get the Ribs with Baked Beans and Potato Salad at Grangers. I consider it a fair trade on recommendations as one of your previous videos clued me in to the excellent Oakwood Express in Wildwood, a normal stop for me now when fanning the Wildwood Subdivision. A few other local recommendations, if you're ever in the Auburndale area in the morning the Pantry Diner is a great stop for breakfast and if you hit up the West Lake Wales Branch for the Florida Midland Railroad, I have two great places to stop off the Scenic 17 Highway. The Crooked Bass is a Bar and Grill Restaurant in Babson Park that has great Ribeye Steaks, Prime Rib, Fried Shrimp, Wings, and Burgers. Finally, Frostbite Ice Cream in Frostproof is great for grab and go with burgers and milkshakes.
Thanks Josh! I'm putting those places on my list.
Your videos always teach me things i didn't know I wanted to know.
I also enjoy the restaurant reviews. I may never travel to Florida, but if I do I'll know where to eat.
I think it was around 1983 when I was a boy in Canton Illinois. A man working for the Burlington Northern came to service the diamond that crossed the Toledo Peoria and Western. The procedure he performed was to grind the wear points of the diamond down past whatever hairline cracks could be detected. It was quite a bit of material that was removed, at least 2 inches back on each side in every direction. I was really surprised when he let the local pass by during the operation. After the grinding he fired up the welder and placed bead on top of bead, then ground it down till it was like new again. It took him two days.
Such a cool and interesting video. I've lived in Orlando all my life and I never knew Tampa put in a streetcar system in the 2000s. Honestly more cities should have them, but we all know who screwed that pooch. [Glares at automotive companies]
That barbecue joint looks legitimately awesome.
I also lived in Orlando and never knew about the TECO street cars until I left. The best part about the TECO trolly is it's free.
That barbecue place is awsome, I have gotten food there many times in the past. Just wish it wasn't so far from where I now live. Used to live just around the corner from there.
They have some of the best Ribs in all of Polk County.
Is this type of transportation cost effective. They make little profit, if any. They are a drain on the city budget.
GM, Firestone and Standard oil destroyed the interurban railroads.
I grew up about 1mile from the Port Reading NJ diamond railroad crossing. Back then, there was a dual track intersected by a single track leading to and from the Port Reading rail yard. What a racket it made when standing nearby. Ironically, it was somewhat reassuring to hear off in the distance on hot summer nights as the sound would carry across town and in through an open bedroom window. If you caught the start of it, you could count the number of cars as they passed over the diamond. My way of counting sheep.
Great video as always Danny!
I wanted to mention a rule we have at NS for automatic interlockings.
When approaching a signal governing an automatic interlocking at a speed of 25 mph or less, movement must proceed towards the interlocking prepared to stop (similar to operating on an Approach) even if the signal can be seen as displaying a favorable indication.
The reason for this is the timing system you mentioned. When moving slowly towards an interlocking, it is always possible that the time may run out as you are approaching.
This means you could go from having a Clear straight to a Stop within seconds. This rule exists to prevent crews from potentially passing a signal at danger. If you do not comply with this rule and approach an interlocking, the signal drops, and you get enforced, you will still be found at fault for failure to operate in accordance with the rules and will be thrown out on the street and taken to investigation.
Auto Interlockings are nifty but if you don’t understand all of the rules that go with them, you can very easily end up in trouble!
Hope this information was helpful!
Although not stated in your analysis, the rule must presume that approaching the crossing at a speed greater than 25 mph will insure the train will preserve the occupancy required by the system logic and foul the track circuit protection against the opposing track, but a train that approaches at a speed of less than 25 mph will be able to stop prior to fouling, if an opposing train calls for a signal.
The logic is a bit more complicated, just think "if then, but".
@@glennfoster2423 that is exactly why the rule exists. If you are going faster than 25 mph, the signal will not time out and drop. A speed of greater than 25 mph when approaching an automatic interlocking protected by NS Rule 280 will preserve your occupancy.
In india All trains are owned by Govt under Railway ministry. And we have Dimond crossing in Nagpur. One of busy diamond crossing in world.
Danny I worked as a Train Operator in several towers in the Cincinnati area for the Chessie System back in the late 70’s on into the 80’s when the mergers created CSX. Man what great memories. Thanks for your hard work to educate us RailFans. 😎👍🏾
I'm really wondering where the hell the FTC was at when CSX gobbled up all these smaller railroads...
We’ve got one of these - Cae Fawb, near Porthmadog - over the Atlantic in the UK (specifically in Wales), with the added point of note that the two train lines have two different track gauges!
The first line is the Cambrian Line, at the standard 4ft 8+1/2in, which runs along much of the coast of mid-Wales. It sees approximately one passenger service in each direction every two hours (under the current timetable you have two trains, once in each direction, within about twenty minutes, and then a long gap between trains).
The second is the narrow-gauge Welsh Highland Railway (WHR), which is a heritage steam railway that runs for 25 miles on 1ft 11+1/2in track. From what I could see on the timetable, I make it 5 trains per day in each direction during the height of summer, and less later on and earlier in the year when there is less tourism. They’re timed so that they reach the crossing in the long gaps between main line trains wherever possible.
The original WHR (which the current heritage railway rebuilt and restored) had a similar flat crossing at the same location, but I could not find details on past operations. Today, the WHR trains have to stop prior to the crossing and phone up the signalling centre for the region. If they get permission to proceed, all signals on the Cambrian Line are set to danger, the WHR train has a set window in which it must move, and then the driver/guard reports that they have cleared the crossing again. Electronic signalling systems have made this process much faster in the last decade and a half.
LETS GOOOOOO I’ve been waiting for this for ever. Keep making the amazing content. ❤
Grew up around trains and always had an interest in them. Never once did I ever ponder how one track crossed another.
I was really looking forward to this video. From 1960 to 1969 i was a towerman on the Chicago Terminal Division of the Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific and while there were junctions and yards there were a lot of diamonds. My favorite tower was Joliet UD controlling at that time 16 diamonds the RI double track main and two yard track coach yard crossing double track Santa Fe and the double track Chicago & Alton with a lot of crossovers.
Dispatchers had a little work on the division issuing slow orders, working one shift at a tower that had a CTC 😅machine as well as a conventional interlocking machine 17:41
Me gustan mucho sus videos. Gracias
Thank you for your time in making this video it was informative and enjoyed as usual
Awesome 😎 content as always and your Narration is always perfect and I ❤ how your wall is growing with railroad stuff!
A fantastic video ABSOLUTELY enjoy verry informative .
WOW!!! I never suspected that diamonds were so complicated. I thought trains just cross them when there was no other train coming (much like cars at a 4-way intersection).
I'm pretty sure there are some examples of railroad crossings that are operated like that, i.e. without any signaling system/without any coordination between both lines, thus transferring the responsibility for mutual exclusive usage of the diamond to the train drivers by visual checking for trains possibly arriving on the other line - but this, of course, drastically limits the maximum speed or even requires to come to a full stop in front of the crossing
An intersting setup. This is what was in place in the early 90's on RJ Corman, Cleveland line. Outside and south of Brewster, Ohio, RJ Corman (ex B&O) ran north.nJust north of North Beach City, they ran into a manual tilting target signal. It was usually set for Corman movements as Corman and Ohio Central used Corman track to go to Warwick, a CSX interchange. Just before the tilting target was a connection track from Ohio Central (ex N&W and NKP branch line) to Corman. Anyway, just north of that Corman had an interlocking to cross the Wheeling & Lake Erie (again ex N&W and NKP mainline). The interlocking had B&O CPL's guarding their movement. Only STOP or PROCEED. Sometimes we had to manually run a timer or call W&LE to operate the plant.
Now the interesting part. Corman would call Ohio Central, to obtain permission to enter their track, to access W&LE Brewster yard. Corman also held the block permission on its own track, where the Ohio Central connection was. At the time there was only 1 Corman train a day and it had the permission. Corman would stop at the tilting target, manually move it for Ohio Central track movement, then proceeds the Brewster mainline switch and then call W&LE for permission to enter their main.
Technically, we should have our track rights anulled when we left our own mainline, but since we were the only train out there, and if Ohio Central wanted to use our track to go to Warwick, they would have to call our train and our yard office for permission. Then Corman would annul our orders and re-issue them to Ohio Central. In essence we were short cutting on those permissions, since we were the only train there.
I'm pretty sure it has all been changed by now, but was always odd, to have to get our own permission to cross our own track.
Another award winning video.🏆 Appreciate the time you take to do your homework. I can relate to that in my job before I retired. A one hour presentation can take numerous hours of prep time.
Always look forward to your videos. Once again your taught an old dog a new trick! 👍😁🇺🇲
There was once an interesting crossing in San Luis Obispo County, California where the Southern Pacific crossed the narrow gauge Pacific Coast Railway at Edna. (A standard gauge / narrow gauge crossing being rare, if not unique, outside of dual gauge yard trackage.) The little Pacific Coast Railway had been there first and, apparently, this put the burden on the Southern Pacific to build a tower there and staff it. Also, by being the first railroad there, the little Pacific Coast Railway had priority over Southern Pacific trains. It is my understanding that once the Southern Pacific was having maybe 25 trains a day and the Pacific Coast Railway was down to maybe two a week, that the Southern Pacific unilaterally started to give itself priority.
As always, this was a "diamond" of a video. I always smile when I get a notification saying you have posted a new video because I know it's going to make the day that much better. Thank you for your hard work and dedication, Danny!! 😊
One of the great sounds of Railroading is hearing diamonds get pounded by a big freight and nice footage!🛤🚂👍
Another great and very interesting video. Always look forward to them
One of few diamonds in my neck of the woods still have tilt board signals protecting the crossing. First you pull up and come to a complete stop. You have to get permission from the dispatcher to cross and line the signal up for your movement. Then drop a 15 minute fusee on both sides of diamond and then position the tilt board signal for your movement. All the while looking out for any other train movement from the other line. But...they rarely see or even meet other over the lightly travelled routes. Be safe out there and thanks for sharing some good information.
This is sort of like the "five minute rule". Where specified, a train desiring to enter a main track in signalized territory an employee may open a switch, attend the switch (to line it back normal should a train on the main track approach), and after 5 minutes (or time specified by the railroad based on maximum authorized speed) enter the main track.
Being a railfan I tell people that trains on rails, let alone" Diamonds" see the tracks go down when train wheels are on them. That's a lot of weight at one time. One of our spots is at a crossing. Another cool spot if you can find them are former stations that are no longer in use. Usually a Heritage Org. or similar body maintains them. Very close to trains & usually have tables or benches to sit at.
O M gosh, can you imagine the damaged cars from hitting that diamond that were not paying attention?
O M Gosh, can you imagine the destroyed cities from constantly making concessions for the automobile?
Those diamond crossings can sure take a beating. Another great, informative video. 👍
🚂🚃🚃🚃🚃
Excellent presentation and both informative and easy to follow along. Just off Milwaukee's downtown a 2 track streetcar line crossed the Milwaukee Road's 2 track approach to the depot and was at a bit of an angle and I believe set in bricks. Because of their later arrivals interurbans frequently did have to build a bridge over or under the steam Road especially in the Midwest. Thanks for the top-notch presentation
Glad it was helpful!
@distantsignal I like how informative you are and people ask great questions. I'm gonna try to work for the railroad. Can't wait to mention you when I do come to Florida.
Excellent information Danny. I never thought about it must about how diamond traffic is handled but I'm now informed. Have a great day my friend 👍👍🚦
Great content I appreciate your channel.
As a Foodie I appreciate the places you recommend to eat. When train watching I get hungry! Will have to try Granger in Lakeland, Florida. Love the info on diamonds. What a gem!
Absolutely incredible video. I've always wondered how they controlled movements on those just never thought to ask. Always look forward to seeing your videos. I can't wait for the next one.
G'Day from Western Australia ! I was a Loco technician from 1979-1983. I've never seen a diamond, per se, so I found this very interesting. Thank you Danny !
Thanks for the ton of information. I'll try to incorporate some of that in my model railroad. Someone in Fostoria Ohio has a steaming channel of the dispatchers there and it can be crazy.
Danny- as usual a very educational video. I always wondered how these intersections worked and now I know. Thanks!
Hey, Danny. Glad to see you again and teach us other railfans about the diamonds. You do an excellent job. Take care, Danny, and I will be looking forward to seeing you soon. Robert over and out.
Excellent presentation. Many thanks for sharing.
Love to see the wall growing in railroad signs
Danny just another great show. I come from a Railroad town but now live in Dunedin,Florida so no train action here. I always like you part of the show where you talk about where you eat.
Really cool to see how you guys do things in the US, especially how all of the different companies play together. I’m in Ireland, all of the rails and trains are owned and operated by Iarnród Éireann, which is a subsidiary of the state-owned company Córas Iompair Éireann. Definitely streamlines the process for us when it’s all one company operating on all of the rails, although there is a small exception on some of the Inter-city routes crossing the border to Northern Ireland. Here we also use an unusually wide track gauge of 1,600mm/5 ft 3 in. Love these videos and how it highlights the differences and similarities of railways throughout the world! Keep ‘em coming!
The diamond in Tampa, with the curves to protect the tram line from trains reminded me of something similar in Toronto. The streetcars and subways run on the unique TTC gauge, which is not used anywhere else in the world. The supposed reason for that was to keep trains off the streetcar tracks. However, the new LRT lines going in now use standard gauge.
Thanks for doing all the research and groundwork. Really appreciate your videos!
Bravo Danny, Bravo!!!! Thanks so much for this great video!!
This channel has made me start railfanning my local railroad, the Portland and Western, and its Toledo Hauler train that runs frequently in the small lumber town of Toledo, OR where I recently moved to. Also Danny you should know whenever I play your videos and you say "Hello again railfans" my girlfriend grins from ear to ear and says "Hi Danny!"
Love the channel and I always immediately watch your new videos whenever I see you upload them!
She's a keeper!!
Thank you for another wonderfully informative video.
Thanks Danny, as always, one of the very best railfan channels. ❤
Thanks for the refresher! I watched your video just to see if I could learn something. Low & behold I had never heard of an O.W.L.S. Crossing diamond. I retired 10 years ago from the U.P.'s Spring Dispatch Center in the Houston Service District. When it comes to who controls the diamond, all territories that I ever worked the diamonds were controlled by the first railroad at that location, going back to the original railroad.
This is the best railfan channel out there, by far. Keep up the great work, Danny!
We have a diamond in our town. UP, old T&P in 1872 then MP with now CP/KCS old L&A crossing in 1908. Enjoyed your video.
Great video, Danny! Always fascinating hardware on the RR... there are some crazy diamonds up north and even was one in Miami when the Seaboard crossed six FEC tracks to access one of the old docks.
Your fence is looking good with all the signs on it! Thank you sir! Great video!
I was the boy in the green and black shirt!
I’m subscribed to you
As usual very informative and interesting. Looking forward to what you post next.
Man I think about all the research involved to put this together. I have always loved trains. Looking at those diamonds is interesting. Seeing how railroads had to cooperate, to cross trains safely. Tryibg to imagine the maintenance involved, it has to be staggering. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks for the video, I noticed a loose bolt at the Plant City diamond.
Great job Danny thank you for another amazing video and I can’t wait for the next one to come out
This is a highly informative video that answered questions I've had over the years.
Another great video Danny! Your videos are very educational to rail fans and people who aren’t . Keep it up!
We railfans are all learners! None of us knows everything. Railroading is very complicated industry and there's always something to learn! (One of the reasons it's great to be a railfan!)
Thank you for the great information you supplied me with. I presently work for New York City Transportation.
It's always a good day when there's a new Danny Harmon video! 😊
Thanks for this excellent video!
The only down side was that it left me feeling hungry again after seeing that delicious food.
The steel in those diamond crossings must be something else! Good Lord, what a beating they take! Thanks again!🙏
Great informative video Danny! I actually filmed a short line and CSX meeting at a diamond, and it was the short line that went first. Somehow, the CSX crew seemed impatient having to wait for their turn.
Distant Signal is one of the few channels for which I will like a video as soon as it starts playing - because I KNOW it will be awesome! Plus the always-welcome BBQ lunch. Thanks Danny! 👍👍
Danny, many years ago, in my neck of the woods (Fort Wayne, Indiana), two of the Easterly and Westerly Railroads crossed each other in an Industrial district. The Pennsylvania, and the Wabash, basically changed places -VIA- and 'X' diamond; where one was moving to the Northeast, and the other to the Southwest. One old Pennsy conductor had told me that the Wabash had absolute control of the diamond. If anyone from the Pennsy had irritated the dispatcher/controller at the Wabash tower, he could hold up the Pennsy train in a retaliation move as punishment and placed that train behind schedule.
On the hammering of the diamond, you can see the wear on the
adjacent rail.
Nice shot.
Good job Danny
Thanks Danny . Another great video with lots of questions answered.
captain of industry brought me here
Always a pleasure Danny. You got me on a couple of good points on this one. Appreciated.
Great video as always Danny. Watching the close-ups of the diamond (which were great) I noticed a loose bolt moving around. I know you said these required more maintenance but it would be interesting in a part 2 if there is any video of service work or the time table they use to service them. For example, do they have crews that tighten the bolts periodically? Thanks again!
"D" for Derail, Diamonds... and neatly... Danny! Awesome. John BC, Canada
Thank you for another great video Danny appreciating all the info you provide. Have a great day.
That BBQ looked amazing! THANKS for the info regarding diamond crossings. Never knew how the right of ways were determined.
Thanks for a very informative videos. I had never even thought about how the crossing was controlled.
Thank you Distant Signal! Always quality. 🔥
The amount of knowledge you have is priceless Danny.. excellent info and presentation, as always. Im a 50 year retired signalman /conductor . You could easily work at almost any Rail job if you wanted. Youd prob be better than alot of the shmoes working now. Lol. Great informative video as always
Thank you for another wonderful, informative, and interesting video Danny, and the BBQ lunch looked delicious! 😋
Years ago I regularly watched the live cam at Rochelle. The diamond was pounded. I watched as trains bounced and bobed and weaved accross the diamond. Then some maintaince began. Finally work got serious on the diamond and new electrics. The new signal bridge (off cam at the time). Now things there look smooth as trains roll through. Track workers success.
Great video. Was hoping for you show my diamond in subdivision, the diamond in Rochelle, IL where the BNSF meets the Union Pacific.
Your videos are great.
I’ll throw in my experience with railroad diamonds. I briefly worked for New England Central in 2005, qualified from Brattleboro VT to East Alburg VT. In that territory, we ran through Bellows Falls VT, where the Vermont Rail System crosses via a diamond. NECR controls the diamond, and VTR must contact the NECR dispatcher to request the signal to cross. My understanding is that the Rutland RR (now VTR) was there first, and the Central Vermont RR (Now NECR) wanted to build their route across the existing Rutland route. The agreement going forward was for CV to maintain and control the diamond.
Fantastic and very informative video 😎👍🏽 We love your videos here in the UK 😎👍🏽🇬🇧
The bbq looks amazing. That alone made this video 5 stars in my book. Makes me wish I could visit there and get me some of that sliced pork.
Gotta love a purple sign, so royal! Nice addition to the collection.