Patent ID: 8424812

Claim:
A frog panel for accommodating the rolling of a railcar wheel of a train wheel set, having a flange and a tread surface and said railcar wheel, when first manufactured, having an original tread-flange distance, across a crossing point from main line rails to turn out rails, said frog panel comprising: a. a pair of main line rails comprising an outer main line rail and an inner main line rail having a crown; b. a pair of turn out side rails comprising an outer turn out side rail and an inner turn out side rail; c. a plurality of railroad ties adapted to support said main line rails and said turn out side rails; said inner main line rail having a continuous beam, said main line rail having a main rail tread bearing surface defining a transition zone thereabove; said inner side rail supported by said ties and crossing said inner main rail, said inner side rail being divided into a toe rail segment and a heel rail segment that are located on opposite sides of said inner main rail; said toe rail segment angled upwardly from the horizontal toward said main rail and terminating at a height such that a flange of a railcar wheel passing through said transition zone will clear said tread bearing surface; and d. a frog on the heel side of said main rail, said frog having a frog tread bearing surface disposed at a level higher than said inner main rail crown, and being aligned with and secured to said heel rail segment, said heel rail segment angled upwardly from the horizontal toward said frog, said frog having a flange pathway having transitional flangeway floor having an upfield portion substantially level with said crown of said inner main rail, and a downwardly receding downfield portion, such that the flange of a railcar wheel of a train wheel set passing therethrough contacts said transitional flangeway floor prior to the tread of said wheel contacting said frog tread bearing surface.