Three Way Diamond Crossing - Columbus & Afton Subs, MKT Joplin Branch - Interlocking - Columbus, KS

I just wanted to let everyone know, I have inquired with a few companies that make custom track sections about making a working replica of the 3 way diamond crossing at Columbus, Kansas.

I may be wrong on the location, but, the companies I have spoken with know of the interlocking. I have began discussions for getting them to possibly manufacture, and market it, if they can get it to work, and get enough people interested. I got an email today and they said just the design alone would range about $400 to $500 dollars.

Here is the cut and paste copy of the email.


Hello William,

I'm vaguely familiar with the crossing and agree it's a one-of-a-kind animal.

Depending on the amount of design required, custom assembly fixtures range in price from $200.00 to $1,000.00 and most commonly in the $400.00 - $500.00 range. Custom design is also subject to time restraints, which can be several weeks or months to complete.

Cheers!

Terry Firth
Fast Tracks
http://www.fast-tracks.net

On Mon, Dec 5, 2011 at 2:22 AM, William <burst@emailmeform.com> wrote:
Your Name*: William

Email Address*: frisco4500@hotmail.com

Subject*: 3 direction crossing

Your Question*: I model the Frisco Railway and in Columbus Kansas the Frisco had a 3 way crossing. Three railroads intersected at the exact same location, and I am wanting to model that crossing on my layout. There was no other crossing like it in the world. Can you all help me with this?

Hi Willie,

Here's a link to someone who may be interested in making one or several for you. Glen Thomas does a lot of custom work and the finished products are First Class! You will find his website here:

http://ccturnouts.com/

Have a look at his Turnouts Gallery and you will see what I mean.

Cheers!

Terry Firth
Fast Tracks

I have contacted CCTURNOUTS and am awaiting a response!

Is there anyone else who would be interested in buying one of these if I can get them built?

I know I will, if I get them to go thru the trouble of designing one and making it work,

I am definitely gonna spend the money to get one!

 

You know, that was the exact same response I received from Fast Tracks when I asked them about making PC Tie track jigs centered on 5" to represent 39' feet.

It's a little disconcerting that you would get the exact same email on a totally different product request. Kinda makes me feel funny.

Does anyone has a picture of this monster you want to create?

 

Have a look at these threads.

http://www.frisco.org/vb/showthread.php?2156-Columbus-Kansas/page2&highlight=columbus+kansas

http://www.frisco.org/vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=7189&d=1235776564

Tom G.

 

Thanks Tom.

Interesting creation no doubt.

Do you or anyone know the date or circa of that puppy?

I'd like to know when it was made.

 

Manny,

There are pictures on that thread that tell the dates it was in service and when it was replaced, and when it was donated to the city of Columbus.

It is very interesting, there were 3 of them made, but this is the only one that was ever used for a long time and still sits on display today! I drew a template of it to scale and am now pondering my next move to try and make one myself, but, still wanna try and see if I can get a company to make it for us.

I think they would be more accurate on the angles and all. Would be cool for them to make them in codes 70, 83, and 100, which would almost match the eras. Plus make one in code 55 and 70 in N Scale.

Man, I am just chock full of ideas today!

 

I have already built one all though it is not quite the correct angles.

If anyone has any drawings of it and can get me the correct angles, I will build one for you Willie. It really is not that difficult after your get a little practice. I suggest starting out building a 90 degree one first. Use the Fast Track templates which are available for free off of their website.

Having them build one at the price you were quoted is ridiculous.

Bob Wintle, MMR
Parsons, KS

 

Bob,

Thank you so much.

I am honored that you would do that for me. I looked really good at the pictures and several pages and it turns out, I took a 60 degree cross over and laid a piece of straight track right over top of it and it matched up perfectly to the picture. I don't know any better way to describe this but that was what I came up with.

I saw yours that you built and it looked really neat. I think it would be cool if more track makers would manufacture multi-direction cross overs and unusual switches like are on the real railroads. I figure since the price of everything seems to be going up, might as well add to the hobby and make it more interesting and more fun, by creating more elaborate things for us to create more elaborate track plans!