Columbus, KS: 1902+1968-1981 A triple-cross diamond and 8 railroad "spokes" became 4

Crossing: (Satellite, the former location of the triple crossing)

Frisco Depot: (Satellite)

Caboose: (Satellite)

Chris Aldrighetti posted

The world famous St. Louis-San Francisco Railway and Missouri Kansas & Texas Railroad crossing and switch tower/station, also known as the Columbus triple crossing.

Built in 1902 it quickly gained recognition around the world. When built it was using 90 pound rail. As diesel engines came onto the scene in 1958 the rail was changed to 115 pound rail to handle the additional weight. The original crossing survived up until 1968 when it was replaced with an exact replica. The new replica crossing was in use until 1981, when it was replaced by the current two-way crossing. It was located approximately 150 feet northwest of the turn where N Railroad Avenue turns east and becomes E Buckeye Street in Columbus, Kansas.

According to a March 14th issue of The Columbus Daily Advocate from 1902, the triple crossing was one of six tri-crossings in the United States. The Columbus triple crossing being the only one in the state, or west of the Mississippi River.

Contradictory to the newspaper article, the historical marker erected by the Columbus Lions Club located outside of the Columbus Museum and Genealogy Library states: "The crossing, formerly located in the northern part of Columbus, was donated to the City of Columbus by the Burlington Northern Railroad. At the time, the switch was constructed, it was one of the three built; one in Hamburg, Germany, destroyed during the war, and one in Pennsylvania which was removed within a short time. The crossing before you is the only one remaining."

Paul Jevert shared

 

Chris commented on his post
Tony, same location in 1968.

 

Chris Aldrighetti posted another image with the same comment.

 

Chris Aldrighetti posted

The world famous St. Louis-San Francisco Railway and Missouri Kansas & Texas Railroad crossing and switch tower/station, also known as the Columbus triple crossing. Circa 1954.

Built in 1902 it quickly gained recognition around the world. When built it was using 90 pound rail. As diesel engines came onto the scene in 1958 the rail was changed to 115 pound rail to handle the additional weight. The original crossing survived up until 1968 when it was replaced with an exact replica. The new replica crossing was in use until 1981, when it was replaced by the current two-way crossing. It was located approximately 150 feet northwest of the turn where N Railroad Avenue turns east and becomes E Buckeye Street in Columbus, Kansas.

According to a March 14th issue of The Columbus Daily Advocate from 1902, the triple crossing was one of six tri-crossings in the United States. The Columbus triple crossing being the only one in the state, or west of the Mississippi River.

Although contradictory to the newspaper article, the historical marker erected by the Columbus Lions Club located outside of the Columbus Museum and Genealogy Library states: "The crossing, formerly located in the northern part of Columbus, was donated to the City of Columbus by the Burlington Northern Railroad. At the time, the switch was constructed, it was one of the three built; one in Hamburg, Germany, destroyed during the war, and one in Pennsylvania which was removed within a short time. The crossing before you is the only one remaining."

Daniel C Carroll Jr. shared

One of four images shared by Richard Crabtree
The famous triple crossing & interlocking plant in Columbus Ks 1910s

Raymond Storey posted
Jim Kelling shared

JC Walker posted five photos with the comment: "Columbus KS. Only 3-way existing. What were they thinking?!?! The location was just north of town."

John W Chamberlain Triple Diamond takes up way less land and is easy control. 1 interlocking instead of 3.
Patrick J Laronde I think there would have been more cross ties when the thing was in service.
Bucky Blankenship Looks like a nightmare for pulling tamper Operator.

1

2

3

4

5
[This display is down by the Columbus Museum.]

I've extracted a closeup and an overview from a topo map. The overview captures the railroad names and the closeup shows where the triple crossing was.

1958 Columbus Quadrangle @ 1:24,000

Before the railroad merger mania in the 1980s, each railroad would have its own tracks through town. There were three railroads with four routes through Columbus. (Frisco had two routes.) The Columbus Wye was the crossing of the Light Purple, Orange and Dark Green.

• Blue: Abandoned/Northeast Oklahoma
• Orange: BNSF/Frisco
• Dark Purple: SKOL/Frisco (SKOL = Southern Kansas & Oklahoma)
• Light Purple: BNSF(o/s)/Frisco (o/s means out-of-service)  Actually, it is now more than o/s. The track has been removed.
• Light Green: BNSF/MKT (MKT = Missouri, Kansas & Texas)
• Dark Green: Abandoned/MKT

Satellite plus Paint

This extract shows why the Northeast Oklahoma went north into Kansas and through Columbus. Specifically, there was a lot of coal mining northwest of Columbus.

1959 Joplin Quadrangle @ 1:250,000

Update: I commented on a post. And another post.

Melvin Myers posted
This rail was called a triple crossing it is located in Columbus ks. and used to have a sign telling about it but i guess it is long gone..
[It's a public group so I'm just going to recommend that you peruse the comments.]

Richard Crabtree posted four images with the comment:

The First Frisco Depot in Columbus, Kansas

It was built in 1886 between Pennsylvania & Kansas north of Oak.

Photo 1) Frisco Depot in Columbus, Kansas 1890

Photo 2) Frisco Depot in Columbus, Kansas Floor plan MSDC

Photo 3) Frisco Depot in Columbus, Kansas 1890s

Photo 40 1905 Sanborn Map LOC

Richard Crabtree shared with the comment: "Columbus Kansas (Frisco Lines)."

1

2

3

4