I wonder if someone out there would know a ball park cost of a rail diamond, 90 degrees, 127 pound rail. I know they are extremely expensive, but just how extreme? New and used please. Thanks.

Price of a new OWLS diamond $133K CAD + installation as of a few months ago. Angle doesn't really affect the price too much unless it is extreme. Same speed both ways is about 50% more, plus much higher annual maintenance costs.

How about an ordinary one, not a fancy OWLS flange bearing one?

Steve

The cost of a new one varies a lot, depending on the specifications. Call your local supplier, (LB Foster, Progress Rail, Nortrak etc) and simply ask them for a quote. They'll be happy to talk to you, even if it's only in the planning stages.

Also, bear in mind that they're hand crafted, one at a time. The only place I know of that inventories new diamonds is the Atlas Model RR company. Maybe somebody stocks a few 90 degree ones or something, but generally speaking they're built to order and have long lead times, 6 to 9 months being common.

As for used diamonds, that's a real crap shoot. Since the angle is critical, most scrap dealers won't even bother with them as they just sit in inventory.

I tried to give one away for scrap price a couple months ago. My rail supplier wasn't interested, and a post on this list didn't get any bites either. It ended up going to the scrapper.

Call the usual sources and inquire. If your design allows some flexibility, you may have better luck. If you absolutely need the angle to be so many degrees, minutes and seconds, then you'll most likely end up going new.

Also, while diamonds very are cool, especially for traction lines, they're expensive and avoiding them is the best option where possible.

Rob, you may find it's cheaper to buy a diamond in a more common rail size, say 132 pound, and buy appropriate compromise joints to fit, than to have one made in 127 pound.

If you can supply the straight rail it may reduce the price further.

Have a chat with NorTrak, LB Foster, Skelton, Merrilees, and others... you might find a company that is willing to meet you halfway.

The timing is unfortunate, there was a diamond up for grabs here a few months ago. The offer was urgent and scrapping was imminent, so it's likely gone now.

Good luck,

Steve Hunter

Steve, we're looking to sell one, not purchase. We've been approached by a firm looking to buy one we have in our possession.

Yep, it's probably beer cans by now... I was the one offering it for sale at scrap prices. It wasn't a 90 though, not that it matters.

That brings up an interesting point to the discussion. I pretty much couldn't give it away. Harmer Steel didn't want it. Nobody here wanted it. We didn't want it in our inventory. (Elephant, White, one each). The market for selling them is very limited.

On the other hand, when you need one, they're pretty much impossible to find. Well, actually they're easy to find, just call Nortrak, send them some blueprints and a big stack or money, then wait nine months and your bouncing baby diamond arrives, all shiny and pretty... But finding a used one is tough, since very few companies inventory them.

So, the fact that a buyer and seller seem to have come together should work out well for both parties. As a seller, anything over scrap price is pure profit. As a buyer, anything under the cost for a new one is a bargain, and the fact it's available right now is a bonus. Sounds like a good match!

Two years ago I solicited bids for two diamonds for the Nevada State railroad Museum. One was a dual gauge (standard and 36” narrow gauge) in both directions and the other was dual gauge in one direction. Both were on curves in both directions. One was at 58 degrees and the other was at 38 degrees. They were made in 90# rail with bolted frogs. High bids were a little over $100,000 each and low bid was $53,570 and $52,570 respectively. Harmer steel was low. They are nicely made. I looked at a Mexican company who had a lower bid yet but they seemed a little flakey and I wasn’t sure I wanted to do business out of the country.

Chris De Witt