ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Flange-bearing frog

Okay, imagine a train track. Sometimes, on the place where two tracks meet and split apart, there is a special thing called a flange-bearing frog. It's a piece of metal that helps the train go from one track to another smoothly.

Now, let's break it down into smaller parts. The first part is the "frog." It's called that because it kind of looks like a frog's leg when you look at it from above. It's a special shape that helps guide the train's wheels from one track to another.

Next, we have the "flange." That's a funny word, right? Well, the flange is a little part on the inside of the train's wheel. It sticks out a little bit, and it helps keep the train on the track. When the train goes over the flange-bearing frog, the flanges on the wheels fit into the grooves on the frog, kind of like puzzle pieces that fit together.

The last part is the "bearing." This is like a little support for the train's wheels. It's there to hold the wheels in place and help them roll smoothly along the tracks.

So, when a train comes to a flange-bearing frog, it's like a special spot where the tracks split apart. The frog helps guide the train's wheels from one track to another, while the flanges on the wheels fit into the grooves on the frog. And the bearings hold the wheels in place so the train can roll along without any problems.

And that's how a flange-bearing frog helps trains move from one track to another!
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