Railroad switch - Knowledge

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broom – quite similar to ice scrapers used today), or gas torches for melting ice and snow. Such operation are still used in some countries, especially for branch routes with only limited traffic (e.g. seasonal lines). Modern switches for heavily trafficked lines are typically equipped with switch heaters installed in the vicinity of their point rails so that the point rails will not be frozen onto the stock rail and can no longer move. These heaters may take the form of electric heating elements or gas burners mounted on the rail, a lineside burner blowing hot air through ducts, or other innovative methods (e.g. geothermal heat sink, etc.) to keep the point & stock rails above freezing temperatures. Where gas or electric heaters cannot be used due to logistic or economic constraints, anti-icing chemicals can sometimes be applied to create a barrier between the metal surfaces to prevent ice from forming between them (i.e. having frozen together by ice). Such approaches however, may not always be effective for extreme climates since these chemicals will be washed away over time, especially for heavily thrown switches that experience hundreds of throws daily.

1149: 216: 950: 570: 1085: 1180: 1981: 1915: 1101: 1937:, if the wheels on both sides of the car are connected by a rigid solid axle, only one switchpoint is needed to steer it onto one or the other track. The switchpoint will be on inside rail of the switch's curve route. When a streetcar enters the curve route of the switch, the wheel on the inside of the curve (the right side of the car on a right turn) is pulled into the turn, and through the axle, directs the wheel on the outside to also follow the curve. The outside wheel is supported for a short distance by its flange running in the groove. 1539: 1449: 557:

some switches, the shock, vibration, possibly in combination with slight heating caused by braking or a city microclimate, may cause the chunks of ice to fall off, jamming the switches. The heaters need time to melt the ice, so if service frequency is extremely high, there may not be enough time for the ice to melt before the next train arrives, which will then result in service disruptions. Possible solutions include installing higher capacity heaters, reducing the frequency of trains, or applying anti-icing chemicals such as

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other forms of three way turnouts an additional frog is required. Due to the inherent complexity of the arrangement, interlaced turnouts are normally only used in locations where space is exceptionally tight, such as station throats or industrial areas within large cities. Interlaced turnouts can also be found in some yards, where a series of switches branching off to the same side are placed so close together that the points of one switch are placed before the frog of the preceding switch.

1008: 1441: 171: 1672: 854: 163: 2176: 963: 1605: 541: 2163: 1779: 66: 187: 1148: 2078: 1694:) has trailing ends which diverge symmetrically and in opposite directions. The name originates from the similarity of their shape to that of the letter Y. Wye switches are usually used where space is at a premium. In North America this is also called an "equilateral switch" or "equilateral turnout". Common switches are more often associated with mainline speeds, whereas wye switches are generally low-speed yard switches. 533: 1227:) is a narrow-angled diagonal flat crossing of two lines combined with four pairs of points in such a way as to allow vehicles to change from one straight track to the other, alternatively to going straight across. A train approaching the arrangement may leave by either of the two tracks on the opposite side of the crossing. To reach the third possible exit, the train must change tracks on the slip and then reverse. 1117: 1878: 351: 1497: 1293:

cannot switch tracks. This is normally used to allow access to sidings and improve safety by avoiding having switch blades facing the usual direction of traffic. To reach the sidings from what would be a facing direction, trains must continue over the crossing, then reverse along the curved route (usually onto the other line of a double track) and can then move forward over the crossing into the siding.

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dedicated short length of track, or formed from a section of a second, continuous, parallel line), and also allows trains coming from either direction to switch between lines; otherwise, the only way for a train coming from the opposite direction to use a switch would be to stop, and reverse through the switch onto the other line, and then continue forwards (or stop, if it is being used as a siding).

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the train will diverge to the right. If the right point is connected, the right wheel's flange will be guided along the rail of that point, and the train will continue along the straight track. Only one of the points may be connected to the facing track at any time; the two points are mechanically locked together to ensure that this is always the case.

958:. This is an example of a low switch stand, used at locations where there is not sufficient clearance for a tall switch stand. This particular stand is designed to be trailed through by rolling stock, which will cause the points to become lined for the route that the wheels have passed through. It has a reflectorized target. 704:

carriage and was dragging on the ground. While passing through the station at Eschede it threw a switch, causing the rear wheels of the car to switch onto a track diverging from the track taken by the front wheels. The car was thereby thrown into and destroyed the piers supporting a 300-tonne roadway overpass.

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As a general rule, the smaller the crossing angle of a turnout, the higher the turnout speed. In North America, turnouts are rated numerically, which represents the ratio of divergence per length as measured at the frog. A rule of thumb is that the rated speed of a switch (in miles per hour) is twice

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A rotary switch rotates about its long axis to present a track connection to a chosen set of tracks. Physically, it flips over (rotates about its long axis 180 degrees) to connect to the chosen set of tracks. Once the rotary switch is secured the train can proceed. Cog alignment is maintained in both

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are installed on the running line itself, where the railway climbs at a steep gradient. They are used to prevent runaway vehicles colliding with another train further down the slope. In some cases, catch points lead into a sand drag to safely stop the runaway vehicle, which may be traveling at speed.

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are used to protect main lines from stray or runaway cars, or from trains passing signals set at danger. In these cases, vehicles would otherwise roll onto and foul (obstruct) the main line and cause a collision. Depending on the situation in which they are used, run-off points are referred to either

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is similar to the double or single slip switches described above, except that the switch blades are outside of the diamond instead of inside. An advantage over an inside slip switch is that trains can pass the slips with higher speeds. A disadvantage over an inside slip switch is that they are longer

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A set of points on the Strathspey Railway in Scotland. The facing point lock in the middle will need to be withdrawn using the blue lever (behind) on the left before the points themselves can be moved using the black lever (front). Once the points have been moved the lock will be pushed in again with

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mechanism that aligns the points with one of the possible routes. The motor is usually controlled remotely by the dispatcher (signaller in the UK). The switch motor also includes electrical contacts to detect that the switch has completely set and locked. If the switch fails to do this, the governing

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on the insides of the wheels. When the wheels reach the switch, the wheels are guided along the route determined by which of the two points is connected to the track facing the switch. In the illustration, if the left point is connected, the left wheel will be guided along the rail of that point, and

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One advantage of wye switches is that they can have a coarser frog angle using the same radius of curvature than a common switch. This means that they give rise to a less severe speed restriction than the diverging branch of a common switch, without having to resort to more expensive switches with a

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is a method of splitting a track into three or more divergent paths. It is an arrangement of two standard turnouts, usually one left- and one right-handed, in an "interlaced" fashion. The points of the second turnout are positioned between the points and the frog of the first turnout. In common with

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lacks the tapered points (point blades) of a typical switch. Instead, both the movable rails and the ends of the rails of the diverging routes have their ends cut off square. The switch mechanism aligns the movable rails with the rails of one of the diverging routes. In 19th century US railroad use,

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works on the same principle as a double slip, but provides for only one switching possibility. Trains approaching on one of the two crossing tracks can either continue over the crossing, or switch tracks to the other line. However, trains from the other track can only continue over the crossing, and

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The divergence and length of a switch is determined by the angle of the frog (the point in the switch where two rails cross, see below) and the angle or curvature of the switch blades. The length and placement of the other components are determined from this using established formulas and standards.

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Generally, switches are designed to be safely traversed at low speed. However, it is possible to modify the simpler types of switch to allow trains to pass at high speed. More complicated switch systems, such as double slips, are restricted to low-speed operation. On European high-speed lines, it is

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Such switches are usually implemented on the basis of increasing the safe crossing speed. Open blades impose a speed restriction, due to the potential of the crossing impact fracturing the rail as both wheels on each axle hit the crossing gaps almost simultaneously. Switched blades, as shown in the

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systems. There are various possible scenarios involving the routes that trains on each gauge may take, including the two gauges separating or one gauge being able to choose between diverging paths and the other not. Because of the extra track involved, dual gauge switches have more points and frogs

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Catch points originate from the days of the 'unfitted' goods (freight) train. As these trains tended to consist of either completely unbraked wagons (relying entirely on the locomotive's own brakes), or ones with unlinked, manually applied brakes (necessitating a stop at the top of steep downgrades

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The complexity of symmetrical switches usually results in speed restrictions, therefore three-way switches are most often used in stations or depots where space is restricted and low speeds are normal. Symmetrical switches were used quite often on Swiss narrow-gauge railways. Asymmetrical three-way

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The arrangement gives the possibility of setting four routes, but because only one route can be traversed at a time, the four blades at each end of the crossing are often connected to move in unison, so the crossing can be worked by just two levers or point motors. This gives the same functionality

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Turnouts were originally built with straight switch blades, which ended at the pointed end with a sharp angle. These switches cause a bump when the train traverses in the turnout direction. The switch blades could be made with a curved point which meets the stockrail at a tangent, causing less of a

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The Eschede train disaster in 1998 in Germany was one of the world's deadliest high-speed train accidents, resulting in 101 deaths. It occurred when a wheel rim of an ICE train failed at 200 kilometres per hour (120 mph), partially derailing the car. The wheel rim went through the floor of the

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In the United Kingdom points and crossings using chaired bullhead rail would be referred to using a letter and number combination. The letter would define the length (and hence the radius) of the switch blades and the number would define the angle of the crossing (frog). Thus an A7 turnout would be

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between them. In many cases, where a switch is supplied to leave a track, a second is supplied to allow the train to reenter the track some distance down the line; this allows the track to serve as a siding, allowing a train to get off the track to allow traffic to pass (this siding can either be a

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are provided at the exit from a siding or where a goods line joins a line that may be used by passenger trains. Unless they have been specifically set to allow traffic to pass onto the main line, the trap points will direct any approaching vehicle away from the main line. This may simply result in

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in the rails (meaning lighter rails), or an extra joint at which they hinge. Therefore, these switches cannot be traversed at high speed or by heavy traffic and so are not suitable for main line use. A further disadvantage is that a stub switch being approached from the diverging route that is not

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are used where the moving points meet the fixed rails of the switch. They allow the points to hinge easily between their positions. Originally the movable switch blades were connected to the fixed closure rails with loose joints, but since steel is somewhat flexible it is possible to obviate this

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Heating alone may not always be enough to keep switches functioning under snowy conditions. Wet snow conditions, which generate particularly sticky snow and whiteout conditions, may occur at temperatures just below freezing, causing chunks of ice to accumulate on trains. When trains traverse over

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point rails, essentially inhibiting the proper operation of railroad switches. Historically, railway companies have employees keep their railroad switches clear of snow and ice by sweeping the snow away using switch brooms (Basically wire brooms with a chisel attached onto the opposite end of the

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The off-railer is a system of installing a turnout over and above some plain track, without having to cut or replace that track. It is useful for installing temporary branches on agricultural railways, and sidings for track machines on mainline rails. Special ramps lift the wheels off the normal

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In a setup where each of the two tracks normally carries trains of only one direction, a crossover can be used either to detour "wrong-rail" around an obstruction or to reverse direction. A crossover can also join two tracks of the same direction, possibly a pair of local and express tracks, and

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In the United Kingdom, FPLs were common from an early date, due to laws being passed which forced the provision of FPLs for any routes traveled by passenger trains – it was, and still is, illegal for a passenger train to make a facing move over points without them being locked, either by a point

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has the diverging track leaving to the opposite side. In many cases, such as rail yards, many switches can be found in a short section of track, sometimes with switches going both to the right and left (although it is better to keep these separated as much as feasible). Sometimes a switch merely

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rack railway, the rack must be continuous through the switch. The Dolderbahn switch works by bending all three rails, an operation that is performed every trip as the two trains pass in the middle. The Štrbské Pleso and Schynige Platte Strub rack system instead relies on a complex set of moving

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incorporates the tapered points of a typical switch into a self-contained plate. Each point blade is moved separately by hand. Plate switches are only used for double-flanged wheels, with wheels running through the plates on their flanges, guided by the edges of the plate and the movable blade.

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The frog end of the switched crossing, despite still having a gap in one rail, is less problematic in this regard. The outer rail is still continuous, the wing rail (the part that turns out, after the frog gap) provides a gradual transition, and the check rail avoids the possibility of points

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the points (end up going down both tracks) if the points were to move underneath the train. During trailing moves, the wheels of a train will force the points into the correct position if they attempt to move, although this may cause considerable damage. This act is known as a "run through".

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switches are more common, because they do not have speed restrictions compared to standard switches. However, because of their higher maintenance cost due to special parts as well as asymmetric wear, both types of three-way switches are replaced with two standard switches wherever possible.

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Points might move due to the extreme forces exerted by a passing train. In an especially noteworthy and extreme case, a switch's setting was forcibly changed as a result of a disintegrated duo block wheel getting caught in a switch. This caused one of the world's worst rail disasters, the

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Single point switches, known as Tongue and Plain Mate switches, are sometimes used on freight railways in slow speed operation in paved areas such as in ports. In the United States, they are regulated by provision 213.135(i) of the Federal Railroad Administration Track Safety Standards.

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is an active trackwork assembly used where the crossing angle between two tracks is too shallow for totally passive trackwork: the unguided sections of each rail would overlap. These vaguely resemble two standard points assembled very closely toe-to-toe. These would also often utilize

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were introduced to make sure that a signal could only be set to allow a train to proceed over points when it was safe to do so. Purely mechanical interlockings were eventually developed into integrated systems with electric control. On some low-traffic branch lines, in self-contained

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An outside slip switch can be so long that its slips do not overlap at all, as in the example pictured. In such a case a single, outside slip switch is the same as two regular switches and a regular crossing. Double outside slip switches are only used in rare, specific cases.

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If the points are rigidly connected to the switch control mechanism, the control mechanism's linkages may be bent, requiring repair before the switch is again usable. For this reason, switches are normally set to the proper position before performing a trailing-point movement.

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Some low floor streetcar designs use split axles (a separate half-axle for the wheel on each side of the car). Such streetcars are unsuitable for use with single-point switches as there would be no mechanism to transfer the force from the inner to outer wheels at switches.

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connected by the points would result in a derailment. Yet another disadvantage is that in very hot weather, expansion of the steel in the rails can cause the movable rails to stick to the stock rails, making switching impossible until the rails have cooled and contracted.

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Rotary switches are sometimes used on cog railways to maintain alignment of the cog with two different tracks. They are used on the Pilatus Cog Railway to allow up-bound and down-bound trains to pass each other on a grade while sharing the remainder of the single track.

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works by derailing any vehicle passing over it. There are different types of derailers, but in some cases they consist of a single switch point installed in a track. The point can be pulled into a position to derail any equipment that is not supposed to pass through.

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for the guard to walk along the train and set the brakes on each wagon in turn), they also lacked any mechanism to automatically brake runaway cars. Catch points were therefore required to stop the rear portion of a poorly coupled train that might break away whilst

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For many types of switch, a train coming from either of the converging directions will pass through the switch regardless of the position of the points, as the vehicle's wheels will force the points to move. Passage through a switch in this direction is known as a

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coming from the point blades toward the straight path or the diverging path. A train moving from the narrow end toward the point blades (i.e. it will be directed to one of the two paths, depending on the position of the points) is said to be executing a

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as they transition from one rail to another. The wider gauge only encounters continuous rail so is unaffected by the exchange. At dual gauge turntables, a similar arrangement is used to move the narrow-gauge track from one side to a central position.

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of two points placed end to end. These compact (albeit complex) switches usually are found only in locations where space is limited, such as station throats (i.e. approaches) where a few main lines spread out to reach any of numerous platform tracks.

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not uncommon to find switches where a speed of 200 km/h (124 mph) or more is allowed on the diverging branch. Switches were passed over at a speed of 560 km/h (348 mph) (straight) during the French world speed run of April 2007.

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look like a part of a railroad switch, but have a completely different purpose, namely to compensate for the shrinkage or expansion of the road bed – e.g. typically, a larger steel bridge – due to changes in temperature, to avoid

1869:, where locomotives always have multiple driving pinions, it is possible to simplify turnouts by interrupting the rack rail, so long as the interruption is shorter than the spacing between the drive pinions on the locomotives. 491:

In a trailing-point movement (running through the switch in the wrong direction while they are set to turn off the track), the flanges on the wheels will force the points to the proper position. This is sometimes known as

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bump, but the disadvantage is that the metal at the point is thin and necessarily weak. A solution to these conflicting requirements was found in the 1920s on the German Reichsbahn. The first step was to have different

849:. The shiny line crosses the rusty line. This North American "self-guarding cast manganese" component without guard rails has raised flanges on the crossing, which may bear on the face of the wheel as it passes through. 1480:

One advantage to stub switches is that they work better in the snow. The sideways action of the point rails pushes snow to the side, instead of packing the snow between the points and the rail in a more modern design.

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Catch points are usually held in the 'derail' position by a spring. They can be set to allow a train to pass safely in the downhill direction using a lever or other mechanism to override the spring for a short time.

723:. The front wheels of a coach progressed along the straight track as intended, but the rear wheels slewed along the diverging track. This caused the whole coach to detach from the train and slew sideways across the 995:(sleepers) that extend from the switch at the points. They are often used in a place of a switch motor on less frequently used switches. In some places, the lever may be some distance from the points, as part of a 2183:

Turnouts are large pieces of rail infrastructure which may be too big, wide, or heavy to transport in one piece. Special wagons can carry the pieces at approximately 45° from vertical, so that they fit within the

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An example of a mechanism used at a switch. The two points are linked together with a throw bar (also known as a stretcher bar). The throw bar extends to the lever on the near side of the track, which is used to

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a steep grade – although they would also stop vehicles that ran away for any other reason. Now that trains are all 'fitted' (and broken couplings are far less common), catch points are mostly obsolete.

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is a short piece of rail placed alongside the main (stock) rail opposite the crossing. These ensure that the wheels follow the appropriate flangeway through the frog and that the train does not derail.

469:). Historically, this would require a lever to be moved by a human operator, and some switches are still controlled this way. However, most are now operated by a remotely controlled actuator called a 727:

ahead. The movement of the switch occurred beneath the final coach, so that the preceding coaches remained on the track. Poor maintenance of the points was found to be the primary cause of the crash.

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In North America this is generally referred to as a switch's "number". For example, on a "number 12" switch, the rails are one unit apart at a distance of twelve units from the center of the frog.

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moving frog. For this reason they are sometimes used on a main line where it splits into two equally important branches or at the ends of a single track section in an otherwise double track line.

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The crossing is the component that enables passage of wheels on either route through the turnout. It can be assembled out of several appropriately cut and bent pieces of rail or can be a single

199: 1844:, it is common to place turnouts only in relatively flat areas where the rack is not needed. On systems where only the pinion is driven and the conventional rail wheels are idlers, such as the 830:

In some cases, the switch blades can be heat treated for improvement of their service life. There are different kinds of heat treatment processes such as edge hardening or complete hardening.

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described the system that he developed which used a single iron blade, hinged on a vertical pin that was tapered to lie against the plateway. By 1808, Curr's basic design was in common use.

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A switch generally has a straight "through" track (such as the main-line) and a diverging route. The handedness of the installation is described by the side that the diverging track leaves.

2188:. Once all the pieces have arrived, the turnout is assembled sleeper by sleeper on site. A set of turnouts may be trial assembled beforehand off site, to check that everything fits. 1472:

The rails leading up to a stub switch are not secured to the sleepers for several feet, and rail alignment across the gap is not positively enforced. Stub switches also require some

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When a tram track is interrupted during repairs, a set of temporary points may be placed on top of existing track to allow trams to cross to the parallel track. These are known as

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On a crowded system, routine use of crossovers (or switches in general) will reduce throughput, as use of the switch blocks multiple tracks. For this reason, on some high-capacity

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In areas with very low speeds, like depots, and on railroads that had to be built very cheaply, like logging railroads, three-way switches were sometimes built as stub switches.

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signal is kept at red (stop). There is also usually some kind of manual handle for operating the switch in emergencies, such as power failures, or for maintenance purposes.

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Stub switches were more common in the very early days of railways and their tramway predecessors. Now, because of their disadvantages, stub switches are used primarily on

488:. This both allows for remote control and monitoring and for the use of stiffer, strong switches that would be too difficult to move by hand, yet allow for higher speeds. 1797:

A related formation is the 'swish' or rail exchange, where (usually) the common rail changes sides. These have no moving parts, the narrower gauge wheels being guided by

1898:. In the UK, where the angle of divergence is shallower than 1 in 8 (center-line measure) a switched diamond will be found rather than a passive or fixed diamond. 648:

Tampering with a manually operable switch or operation errors in an interlocking may result in two trains being on the same track, potentially causing a collision.

182:); note that the green line represents direction of travel only, the black lines represent fixed portions of track, and the red lines depict the moving components. 2138: 1865:

points which assemble the rack in the traversed direction and simultaneously clear the crossed direction conventional rails. In some rack systems, such as the

991:) is a lever and accompanying linkages to align the points of a switch by hand. The lever and its accompanying hardware is usually mounted to a pair of long 2443: 1906:

splitting. This can be seen in how, under examination, the wing rail has a wider polished section, showing how the wheel load is transferred across the gap.

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the vehicle being derailed, but in some cases a sand drag is used, especially where the vehicle is likely to be a runaway traveling at speed due to a slope.

496:. Some switches are designed to be forced to the proper position without damage. Examples include variable switches, spring switches, and weighted switches. 1028:, is a device which, as the name implies, locks a set of points in position, as well as mechanically proving that they are in the correct position. The 2617: 2002: 585:

very short and likely only to be found in tight places like dockyards whereas an E12 would be found as a fairly high speed turnout on a mainline.

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A train might stand so close to the frog of a switch that a passing train would collide with its side (the first train is then said to have been

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at the outer ends to ensure complete wheel support in the same way as provided on shallow angle turnouts. In North America these are known as

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is used to split a railroad track into three divergent paths rather than the more usual two. There are two types of three-way switches. In a

433:, the red track is the one traveled during a facing-point movement. The switch mechanism, shown in black, may be operated remotely using an 1501: 2724: 1070:

for the stock rails and switch rails, with the switch rails being about 25 mm (0.98 in) less high, and stockier in the middle.

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photograph, allow a much higher speed across the gap by providing an essentially continuous piece of rail across the gap on both sides.

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refers to the entire mechanism. In professional parlance, the term refers only to the movable rails and the entire mechanism is named

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part of the name refers to the fact that they prevent movement of the points during facing moves, where a train could potentially

1378:, allowing a train on one track to cross over to the other. Like the switches themselves, crossovers can be described as either 1179: 833:

The cross-section of the switch blades also influences performance. New tangential blades perform better than old-style blades.

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A single-point switch is cheaper to build, especially in street trackage, as there is no need to link to a second switchpoint.

808:) are the movable rails which guide the wheels towards either the straight or the diverging track. They are tapered, except on 741: 913:(in this case an electric motor) and associated mechanism used to operate this switch can be seen to the right in the picture. 719:, in the United Kingdom, occurred when a switch sprang to a different position as a coach crossed it, a type of mishap called 130: 2904: 2653: 2393:, Charles Fox, "Arrangement of Rails, for Causing a Train to Pass from One Line to Another", published 1838-08-15 1198:

Apart from the standard right-hand and left-hand switches, switches commonly come in various combinations of configurations.

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became more common in the eighteenth century, cast iron components were made to build switches with check rails. In 1797,

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divides one track into two; at others, it serves as a connection between two or more parallel tracks, allowing a train to

3407: 2762:, John H. Morgan, "Switching or Crossover Device for Traction Rack Rail Systems", published 18 October 1904 1853: 1389:

When two crossovers are present in opposite directions, one after the other, the four-switch configuration is called a

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On 31 July 1991, several cars derailed, killing seven passengers, due to a missing locking pin on the switch mechanism.

109: 3723: 2344: 382: 149: 342:, while still in the same direction. Switches consume a relatively high proportion of a railway maintenance budget. 3377: 2225: 1094:: The point of the V-shaped rail is moved to align the rail in the appropriate direction where the two rails cross. 999:

or ground frame. To prevent the tampering of switches by outside means, these switches are locked when not in use.

83: 2454: 2483:"63 FR 39343 – Automatic Train Control and Advanced Civil Speed Enforcement System; Northeast Corridor Railroads" 513: 116: 2787: 592:, switch curvatures were specified from A (sharpest) to F (shallowest), with the following corresponding radii: 55:

This article primarily uses North American terminology. British and Commonwealth terms are given in parentheses.

3400: 2482: 2275:. U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Railroad Administration, Office of Research and Development. 1981. 370:

Simple single-bladed switches were used on early wooden railways to move wagons between tracks. As iron-railed

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is not always present; for example, both tracks may curve, one to the left and one to the right (such as for a

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Temporary or 'Californian' points installed on tramline 81 at the junction of Avenue Louise and Rue Bailli

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Large stations may have hundreds of normal and double switches (Frankfurt am Main main station, Germany).

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A double switch, or double slip—the points are set to connect the upper left and lower right tracks.

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have a diverging path to the right of the straight track, when coming from the point blades, and a

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switches are as varied as rack-railway technologies. Where use of the rack is optional, as on the

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A scissors crossover: two pairs of switches linking two tracks to each other in both directions

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This divergence is measured as the number of units of length for a single unit of separation.

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Animated diagram of a right-hand railroad switch. Rail track A divides into two: track B (the

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Switches are necessary for the operation of a railway, but they do pose a number of risks:

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to control the movement of trains over the points. Eventually, mechanical systems known as

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C – 980 feet (298.70 m) – scissors or simple crossover with a 1 in 10 crossing angle

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Under cold weather conditions, snow and ice can prevent the proper movement of switch or

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and switches that allow this type of movement without damage to the mechanism are called

42: 2504: 2288:"Dynamic characteristics of a switch and crossing on the West Coast main line in the UK" 1727:

as trap points or catch points. Derailers are another device used for the same purpose.

1053:

looseness by thinning a short section of the rail's bottom itself. This can be called a

681:

express was derailed at high speed after being inadvertently switched into a siding via

657:

Switch-related accidents caused by one or more of these risks have occurred, including:

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The most common type of switch consists of a pair of linked tapering rails, known as

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Similarly, an electric forced-air heater can keep a switch free from snow and ice.

3702: 3687: 3654: 3594: 3546: 3531: 3521: 3513: 3367: 3239: 3194: 3036: 2960: 2950: 2840: 2185: 2053:

in Dutch. They may be welded into place and allow trams to pass at walking pace.

1957: 1861: 1822: 1626: 1595: 1429: 1393:. If the crossovers in different directions overlap to form an ×, it is dubbed a 1173:

are provided in order to ensure there are no gaps in the electrical power supply.

874: 611: 558: 259: 162: 1424:

systems, crossovers between local and express tracks are not used during normal

1211: 700:, on 12 April 2001. To prevent these incidents, most unused switches are locked. 520: 26.5 turnout that has speed limit of 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) and 3674: 3636: 3604: 3566: 3526: 3423: 3229: 3214: 3139: 3112: 3041: 2618:"NTSB: Misaligned Switch Directed 'Silver Star' into Parked CSX Autorack Train" 2304: 2287: 2252: 2219: 1794:

than their single gauge counterparts. This limits speeds even more than usual.

1712: 1649: 1410: 1326: 1301: 1159: 474: 434: 401: 359: 208: 2871: 2560:"Train Derailment at Grayrigg, Cumbria 23 February 2007 – RAIB Interim Report" 2410: 815:

In popular parlance in the UK and most other Commonwealth countries, the term

764:

This detail of a switch shows the pair of tapered moveable rails known as the

645:

The necessary maintenance of the complex mechanical device might be neglected.

627:

Reversing the points under a moving train will almost always derail the train.

3717: 3599: 3576: 3493: 3470: 3432: 3329: 3324: 3314: 3275: 3219: 3127: 3122: 3090: 3073: 2940: 2922: 2849: 2719: 2669: 2313: 2236: 2233: – Shortest allowable design radius for the centerline of railway tracks 1810: 1421: 1169:, keep supporting the full weight of the trains as they go through switches. 873:

of manganese steel. On lines with heavy use, the casting may be treated with

716: 470: 289:). These points can be moved laterally into one of two positions to direct a 267: 2857: 2179:

Transport of switches by rail creates problems as they are so long and wide.

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The manual switch of track drive manufactured by Walter Hoene, the port of

682: 465:

A mechanism is provided to move the points from one position to the other (

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Shih, Jou-Yi; Weston, Paul; Entezami, Mani; Roberts, Clive (1 June 2022).

1440: 1122:

A ground frame contains a few levers for manually operating nearby points:

1007: 170: 3682: 3541: 3184: 3144: 3056: 2783: 2505:"Information on Winter Operation by Dutch Infrastructure Manager Prorail" 1833: 1671: 1473: 1106:

Several different styles of old American switch stands on display at the

996: 853: 712: 678: 670: 549: 454: 389: 263: 255: 3392: 3551: 3341: 3307: 3302: 3254: 3179: 3154: 3095: 3061: 2945: 2808: 2175: 1845: 1790: 1564: 1456:—this switch has an additional piece of movable rail instead of a frog. 1409:. This makes for a very compact track layout at the expense of using a 1375: 902:

are often used on very sharp curves, even where there are no switches.

478: 393: 2882: 2678:. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 29 January 1906. p. 7 962: 827:. Turnout and switch are terms used in North America in all contexts. 688:

Wrecks caused by switches being thrown open in front of the trains by

381:

The use of a sprung rail, giving a smooth transition, was patented by

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service, and service patterns are planned around use of the usually

967: 734:

of 23 February 2007 blamed an incorrectly maintained set of points.

573:

A low-speed #6 right-hand switch between a main line and a rail yard

396:

constructed near the tracks through an elaborate system of rods and

65: 3117: 2935: 2540:. London Midland & Scottish Railway. 1928. pp. 8–17, 55–64 2066: 1993: 1857: 1841: 1166: 689: 485: 371: 186: 166:

A right-hand railroad switch with point indicator pointing to right

37:"Set of points" redirects here. For the mathematical concepts, see 2127:

In New South Wales standard turnouts of tangential types include:

2077: 524: 32.7 with speed limit of 80 miles per hour (129 km/h). 1960:

turnout consisting of a bridge that rotates about its lengthwise

532: 363: 251: 2110:

Higher speed turnouts have also been used in the United States:

1877: 1234:

In North American English, the arrangement may also be called a

3199: 2162: 1760: 1515:, the left and right branches diverge at the same place. In an 1496: 760: 674: 458: 350: 339: 905: 516:

has published the speed limits for higher-speed turnouts with

392:, switches at heavily traveled junctions were operated from a 450: 397: 290: 2838:

Cooper, Basil (February 1984). "Points, Locks & Bolts".

841: 744:

on a siding due to a misaligned switch, killing two crewmen.

740:

Twenty-seven years later, on 4 August 2018, the Silver Star

417:, switches may still have the earlier type of interlocking. 1961: 1952: 1930: 354:

Control stand of a defunct railroad switch on the way from

48:"Pointwork" redirects here. For the ballet technique, see 2285: 1465:

the stub switch was typically used in conjunction with a

1041:

lock, or temporarily clamped in one position or another.

2778: 2776: 2774: 2362:

The Coal Viewer and Engine Builder's Practical Companion

2215:

Funicular § Turnout systems for two-rail funiculars

1679:

on the mainline, leading to a single-track bridge, near

1563:

track, and then the off-railer curves away as required.

1523:. Both types of three-way switches require three frogs. 2222: – Overlap configuration to narrow track formation 755: 2569:. Rail Accident Investigation Branch. 26 February 2007 2531:"Drawings of Standard Railway Equipment Permanent Way" 27:

Mechanism to transfer trains from one track to another

Turnout speeds are governed by a number of factors.

1519:, the branches diverge in a staggered way using two 1500:

A three-way stub switch at Sheepscot station on the

2698:"Requirements in regard to the Opening of Railways" 1280:("english one", literally "Englishman") in German. 90:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. 2616:Edmonson, R.G.; Sweeney, Steve (4 February 2018). 536:Gas heating keeps a switch free from snow and ice. 1374:is a pair of switches that connects two parallel 1305:A double, outside slip in Heidelberg main station 970:before 1945, on the site of the former fuel depot 3715: 2249: – Device for turning railway rolling stock 1162:track to guide trains. Rubber tires, rolling on 285:), lying between the diverging outer rails (the 2615: 1060: 930:(point motor or point machine) is an electric, 812:in industrial sidings, which have square ends. 527: 2844:. EMAP National Publications. pp. 60–61. 2758: 2477: 2475: 2431:General Code of Operating Rules, Fifth Edition 2273:Railroad Classification Yard Technology Manual 1417:allow trains to switch from one to the other. 1258:. In Italian, the term for a double switch is 1012:the blue lever to lock the points in position. 974: 3408: 2898: 2788:"TTC Unveils New Streetcar Design and Mockup" 2588:Clark, Chuck; Davidson, Tom (2 August 1991). 2587: 1259: 2021: 2015: 2000: 1885:Although not strictly speaking a turnout, a 1502:Wiscasset, Waterville and Farmington Railway 1352: 1345: 1337: 1331: 1275: 429:The operation of a railroad switch. In this 338:), or both tracks may curve, with differing 247: 2725:Light Railway Research Society of Australia 2472: 2389: 2048: 2042: 2027: 1625:lines intersecting with east and westbound 1269: 601: 3415: 3401: 2905: 2891: 1405:; or, due to the diamond in the center, a 880: 457:of the wheels, rather than relying on the 3422: 2648:. New York: John Wiley. pp. 5, 570. 2590:"Boca Man among 7 Killed in Amtrak Wreck" 2412:Feynman: How the Train Stays on the Track 2303: 2170: 453:are primarily guided along the tracks by 209:Hong Kong Mass Transit Railway light rail 150:Learn how and when to remove this message 2174: 2076: 1979: 1951: 1913: 1881:A switch diamond at a junction in the UK 1876: 1809: 1805: 1777: 1711: 1670: 1537: 1495: 1447: 1444:Closeup of a stub switch in Pennsylvania 1439: 1361: 1325: 1300: 1210: 1006: 961: 948: 904: 852: 840: 787: 779: 759: 685:operated points, resulting in 18 deaths. 568: 539: 531: 437:or hand-operated lever or from a nearby 424: 388:Prior to the widespread availability of 349: 250:) is a mechanical installation enabling 235: 214: 193: 185: 169: 161: 2912: 2339:. Barnsley: Pen & Sword Transport. 2200: – New York City Subway derailment 2123: 32.7: 80 mph (130 km/h) 1520: 1432:at each end of the local-express line. 692:, as in the non-fatal derailments near 503: 400:. The levers were also used to control 14: 3716: 2837: 2643: 2117: 26.5: 60 mph (97 km/h) 1909: 1773: 1567:has such a system. It is similar to a 596:B – 613 feet (186.84 m) – simple 3396: 2886: 2782: 2337:The Railway: British Track Since 1804 1988:, a.k.a. Louisalaan and Baljuwstraat 1574: 1073: 2359: 2106: 20: 40 mph (64 km/h) 2100: 15: 30 mph (48 km/h) 1613:Interlaced turnouts on the elevated 1250:, and the switch is also known as a 1246:in the United Kingdom used the term 1002: 756:Switchrails or points (point blades) 614:switch with a 1 in 12 crossing angle 590:London, Midland and Scottish Railway 88:adding citations to reliable sources 59: 2374: 2334: 1975: 1491: 837:Crossing (frog or common crossing) 742:crashed into a parked freight train 24: 2831: 2056: 25: 3745: 2865: 2485:. Federal Railroad Administration 2419:. BBC TV – via YouTube.com. 2072: 1872: 1701: 610:D – 1,379 feet (420.32 m) – 564: 2567:Assets.Publishing.Service.gov.uk 2226:Glossary of rail transport terms 2161: 1947: 1603: 1594: 1201: 1178: 1147: 1133: 1115: 1099: 1083: 64: 2801: 2752: 2711: 2707:. British Board of Trade. 1892. 2690: 2662: 2637: 2609: 2581: 2552: 2523: 2497: 2335:Dow, Andrew (30 October 2014). 1716:Trap points at the exit from a 1533: 1296: 1158:use conventional points on the 917: 709:May 2002 Potters Bar rail crash 514:Federal Railroad Administration 75:needs additional citations for 3460: 2873:How a Railway Frog Point Works 2436: 2423: 2402: 2383: 2379:. London: The Railway Gazette. 2368: 2353: 2328: 2279: 2265: 2120: 2114: 2103: 2097: 1435: 1283: 1206: 597: 521: 517: 13: 1: 2646:Dynamic Behavior of Materials 2258: 2211: – Railway switch device 1918:A single-point switch on the 1838:West Coast Wilderness Railway 1666: 1557: 1517:asymmetrical three-way switch 750: 528:Operation in cold conditions 254:trains to be guided from one 2242:Rack railway § Switches 2231:Minimum railway curve radius 2198:1928 Times Square derailment 1782:A dual-gauge switch in Japan 1754: 1513:symmetrical three-way switch 1321: 1274:in Dutch and, occasionally, 1108:Mid-Continent Railway Museum 1061:Straight and curved switches 730:The interim report into the 696:, on 12 August 1992, and in 652: 420: 7: 2429:Rules 8.9, 8.15, and 8.18, 2364:. Sheffield: John Northall. 2292:Railway Engineering Science 2204:Centralized traffic control 2191: 2167:1 in 16, for 100 km/h 1110:in North Freedom, Wisconsin 975:Switch stand (points lever) 10: 3750: 3627:Cross-platform interchange 3113:Transfer table (traverser) 2595:Ft Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel 2305:10.1007/s40534-021-00269-4 1758: 1705: 1238:, or more colloquially, a 884: 877:to increase service life. 494:running through the switch 345: 54: 47: 36: 29: 3673: 3645: 3575: 3557:Switch / turnout / points 3547:Grand circle / roundabout 3512: 3469: 3431: 3350: 3268: 3163: 3101:ground-level power supply 3009: 2921: 2727:. April 2013. p. 12. 2377:The Evolution of Railways 2237:Monorail § Switching 2155: 1746:Similar to catch points, 1583:Chicago Transit Authority 1268:. Likewise, it is called 1044: 875:explosive shock hardening 618: 258:to another, such as at a 224:Dresden Funicular Railway 207:Switch blades in motion ( 3724:Mechanisms (engineering) 2644:Meyers, Marc A. (1994). 2409:Richard Feynman (1983). 2375:Lee, Charles E. (1937). 2023:aiguillages californiens 1920:Toronto streetcar system 1193: 3086:Railway electrification 2670:"Scene of the Accident" 1819:Schynige Platte Railway 1681:Ravenstein, Netherlands 1079:Components and switches 881:Guard rail (check rail) 673:, in Ireland, when the 663:Buttevant Rail Disaster 304:trailing-point movement 222:used in the 1895-built 32:Switch (disambiguation) 2444:"Points and Crossings" 2180: 2171:Assembly and transport 2139:NSW 1 in 8.25 crossing 2093:the numerical rating: 2086: 2049: 2043: 2028: 2022: 2016: 2001: 1996: 1964: 1922: 1896:movable-point diamonds 1882: 1836:in Switzerland or the 1826: 1783: 1720: 1683: 1633:lines and the looping 1546: 1504: 1457: 1445: 1367: 1359: 1353: 1346: 1338: 1332: 1330:A double crossover at 1306: 1276: 1270: 1260: 1248:double compound points 1216: 1013: 971: 959: 914: 887:Guard rails (railroad) 866: 850: 793: 785: 777: 633:Eschede train disaster 574: 545: 537: 442: 367: 227: 212: 191: 183: 167: 3225:Platform screen doors 2705:RailwaysArchive.co.uk 2178: 2083:Wazir Mansion Station 2081:A railroad switch in 2080: 2050:Californische wissels 1983: 1955: 1917: 1880: 1813: 1806:Rack-railway switches 1781: 1715: 1674: 1617:north and southbound 1588:18 interlaced turnout 1541: 1499: 1451: 1443: 1365: 1329: 1314:and need more space. 1304: 1244:Great Western Railway 1214: 1188:rigid two-rail switch 1010: 965: 952: 908: 856: 844: 791: 783: 763: 612:double track junction 572: 543: 535: 473:; this may employ an 428: 353: 296:facing-point movement 218: 206: 189: 173: 165: 3693:Minimum curve radius 3660:Zig Zag / Switchback 3175:Anti-trespass panels 2786:(10 November 2011). 2451:Extranet.ARTC.com.au 1256:Victoria (Australia) 825:points and crossings 721:splitting the switch 504:High-speed operation 84:improve this article 30:For other uses, see 3734:Rail junction types 3729:Rail infrastructure 3632:Interchange station 3537:Facing and trailing 3504:Classification yard 3022:Classification yard 2360:Curr, John (1797). 2209:Flange-bearing frog 2085:, Karachi, Pakistan 1910:Single-point switch 1892:swingnose crossings 1787:Dual gauge switches 1774:Dual gauge switches 1521:interlaced turnouts 1311:outside slip switch 1156:rubber-tyred metros 1126:Black lever: Points 1124:Blue lever: Release 865:(right) of a switch 732:Grayrigg derailment 315:Right-hand switches 178:) and track C (the 3562:Swingnose crossing 3281:Motive power depot 3235:Signalling control 2181: 2087: 1997: 1965: 1923: 1883: 1827: 1784: 1721: 1684: 1660:interlaced turnout 1575:Interlaced turnout 1547: 1505: 1488:and branch lines. 1458: 1446: 1395:scissors crossover 1368: 1360: 1357:high-speed railway 1307: 1290:single slip switch 1221:double slip switch 1217: 1092:swingnose crossing 1074:Components gallery 1014: 972: 960: 915: 867: 851: 794: 786: 778: 640:fouling the switch 575: 546: 538: 443: 368: 319:left-handed switch 308:trailable switches 228: 213: 192: 184: 168: 3711: 3710: 3390: 3389: 3108:Railway turntable 2929: 2740:Missing or empty 2655:978-0-471-58262-5 2247:Railway turntable 1467:harp switch stand 1407:diamond crossover 1399:scissors crossing 1261:deviatoio inglese 1128:Red lever: Signal 1018:facing point lock 1003:Facing point lock 946:dates from 1897. 845:A one-piece cast 467:change the points 415:heritage railways 411:marshalling yards 204: 160: 159: 152: 134: 99:"Railroad switch" 16:(Redirected from 3741: 3622:Spanish solution 3612:Terminal station 3585:Railway platform 3417: 3410: 3403: 3394: 3393: 3285:Railway workshop 3001:Transition curve 2971:Fastening system 2925: 2907: 2900: 2893: 2884: 2883: 2874: 2861: 2825: 2824: 2822: 2820: 2809:"Specifications" 2805: 2799: 2798: 2796: 2794: 2780: 2769: 2768: 2767: 2763: 2756: 2750: 2749: 2743: 2738: 2736: 2728: 2715: 2709: 2708: 2702: 2694: 2688: 2687: 2685: 2683: 2666: 2660: 2659: 2641: 2635: 2634: 2632: 2630: 2613: 2607: 2606: 2604: 2602: 2585: 2579: 2578: 2576: 2574: 2564: 2556: 2550: 2549: 2547: 2545: 2535: 2527: 2521: 2520: 2518: 2516: 2501: 2495: 2494: 2492: 2490: 2479: 2470: 2469: 2467: 2465: 2460:on 27 March 2018 2459: 2453:. Archived from 2448: 2440: 2434: 2427: 2421: 2420: 2406: 2400: 2399: 2398: 2394: 2387: 2381: 2380: 2372: 2366: 2365: 2357: 2351: 2350: 2332: 2326: 2325: 2307: 2283: 2277: 2276: 2269: 2166: 2165: 2122: 2116: 2105: 2099: 2062:Expansion joints 2052: 2046: 2040: 2038: 2025: 2019: 2013: 2011: 1991: 1987: 1976:Temporary points 1933:) systems using 1607: 1598: 1509:three-way switch 1492:Three-way switch 1430:flying junctions 1391:double crossover 1356: 1354:Hanover–Würzburg 1350:stations on the 1349: 1343: 1335: 1279: 1273: 1271:Engels(e) Wissel 1263: 1182: 1151: 1137: 1119: 1103: 1087: 956:throw the switch 523: 519: 260:railway junction 249: 237: 205: 155: 148: 144: 141: 135: 133: 92: 68: 60: 50:pointe technique 21: 3749: 3748: 3744: 3743: 3742: 3740: 3739: 3738: 3714: 3713: 3712: 3707: 3703:Cant deficiency 3688:Ruling gradient 3669: 3655:Horseshoe curve 3641: 3571: 3532:Double junction 3522:Flying junction 3508: 3465: 3456:Quadruple track 3427: 3421: 3391: 3386: 3346: 3264: 3240:Structure gauge 3195:Defect detector 3167: 3159: 3005: 2961:Clip and scotch 2951:Breather switch 2917: 2911: 2872: 2868: 2841:Rail Enthusiast 2834: 2832:Further reading 2829: 2828: 2818: 2816: 2807: 2806: 2802: 2792: 2790: 2781: 2772: 2765: 2757: 2753: 2741: 2739: 2730: 2729: 2717: 2716: 2712: 2700: 2696: 2695: 2691: 2681: 2679: 2668: 2667: 2663: 2656: 2642: 2638: 2628: 2626: 2614: 2610: 2600: 2598: 2586: 2582: 2572: 2570: 2562: 2558: 2557: 2553: 2543: 2541: 2538:The LMS Society 2533: 2529: 2528: 2524: 2514: 2512: 2503: 2502: 2498: 2488: 2486: 2481: 2480: 2473: 2463: 2461: 2457: 2446: 2442: 2441: 2437: 2428: 2424: 2408: 2407: 2403: 2396: 2388: 2384: 2373: 2369: 2358: 2354: 2347: 2333: 2329: 2284: 2280: 2271: 2270: 2266: 2261: 2194: 2186:structure gauge 2173: 2160: 2158: 2075: 2059: 2057:Expansion joint 2032: 2026:in French, and 2005: 1989: 1985: 1978: 1958:Pilatus Railway 1950: 1912: 1875: 1862:Schynige Platte 1823:Schynige Platte 1815:Railroad switch 1808: 1776: 1763: 1757: 1710: 1704: 1669: 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2909: 2902: 2895: 2887: 2881: 2880: 2867: 2866:External links 2864: 2863: 2862: 2833: 2830: 2827: 2826: 2800: 2770: 2751: 2710: 2689: 2661: 2654: 2636: 2608: 2580: 2551: 2522: 2496: 2471: 2435: 2422: 2417:Fun to Imagine 2401: 2382: 2367: 2352: 2345: 2327: 2298:(2): 183–203. 2278: 2263: 2262: 2260: 2257: 2256: 2255: 2253:Transfer table 2250: 2244: 2239: 2234: 2228: 2223: 2220:Gauntlet track 2217: 2212: 2206: 2201: 2193: 2190: 2172: 2169: 2157: 2154: 2153: 2152: 2149: 2146: 2143: 2142: 2141: 2132: 2125: 2124: 2118: 2108: 2107: 2101: 2074: 2073:Turnout speeds 2071: 2058: 2055: 2017:Auflegeweichen 2003:Kletterweichen 1977: 1974: 1949: 1946: 1929:On streetcar ( 1911: 1908: 1887:switch diamond 1874: 1873:Switch diamond 1871: 1825:, Switzerland) 1807: 1804: 1775: 1772: 1759:Main article: 1756: 1753: 1724:Run-off points 1706:Main article: 1703: 1702:Run-off points 1700: 1668: 1665: 1612: 1611: 1602: 1601: 1593: 1592: 1591: 1581: 1580: 1579: 1578: 1576: 1573: 1559: 1556: 1535: 1532: 1493: 1490: 1437: 1434: 1411:level junction 1323: 1320: 1298: 1295: 1285: 1282: 1266:English switch 1264:, which means 1208: 1205: 1203: 1200: 1195: 1192: 1191: 1190: 1184: 1177: 1175: 1160:standard gauge 1153: 1146: 1144: 1139: 1132: 1130: 1121: 1114: 1112: 1105: 1098: 1096: 1089: 1082: 1080: 1075: 1072: 1062: 1059: 1046: 1043: 1004: 1001: 976: 973: 928:switch machine 919: 916: 885:Main article: 882: 879: 838: 835: 757: 754: 752: 749: 748: 747: 746: 745: 738: 728: 705: 701: 686: 654: 651: 650: 649: 646: 643: 636: 628: 620: 617: 616: 615: 608: 605: 600:with a 1 in 8 566: 565:Classification 563: 529: 526: 505: 502: 475:electric motor 435:electric motor 422: 419: 360:Goteik viaduct 347: 344: 332:straight track 270:branches off. 176:straight track 158: 157: 72: 70: 63: 26: 18:Railway switch 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 3746: 3735: 3732: 3730: 3727: 3725: 3722: 3721: 3719: 3704: 3701: 3699: 3696: 3694: 3691: 3689: 3686: 3684: 3681: 3680: 3678: 3676: 3672: 3666: 3663: 3661: 3658: 3656: 3653: 3652: 3650: 3648: 3644: 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3223: 3221: 3220:Loading gauge 3218: 3216: 3213: 3211: 3208: 3206: 3203: 3201: 3198: 3196: 3193: 3191: 3188: 3186: 3183: 3181: 3178: 3176: 3173: 3172: 3170: 3166: 3162: 3156: 3153: 3151: 3148: 3146: 3143: 3141: 3138: 3136: 3133: 3129: 3128:refuge siding 3126: 3125: 3124: 3121: 3119: 3116: 3114: 3111: 3109: 3106: 3102: 3099: 3097: 3094: 3092: 3089: 3088: 3087: 3084: 3082: 3079: 3075: 3074:tramway track 3072: 3071: 3070: 3067: 3063: 3060: 3059: 3058: 3055: 3053: 3050: 3048: 3045: 3043: 3040: 3038: 3035: 3033: 3030: 3028: 3025: 3023: 3020: 3018: 3015: 3014: 3012: 3008: 3002: 2999: 2997: 2994: 2992: 2989: 2987: 2984: 2982: 2979: 2977: 2974: 2972: 2969: 2967: 2964: 2962: 2959: 2957: 2954: 2952: 2949: 2947: 2944: 2942: 2939: 2937: 2934: 2933: 2931: 2928: 2924: 2920: 2916: 2908: 2903: 2901: 2896: 2894: 2889: 2888: 2885: 2879: 2875: 2870: 2869: 2859: 2855: 2851: 2847: 2843: 2842: 2836: 2835: 2814: 2810: 2804: 2789: 2785: 2779: 2777: 2775: 2761: 2755: 2747: 2734: 2733:cite magazine 2726: 2722: 2721: 2720:Light Railway 2714: 2706: 2699: 2693: 2677: 2676: 2671: 2665: 2657: 2651: 2647: 2640: 2625: 2624: 2619: 2612: 2597: 2596: 2591: 2584: 2568: 2561: 2555: 2539: 2532: 2526: 2510: 2506: 2500: 2484: 2478: 2476: 2456: 2452: 2445: 2439: 2432: 2426: 2418: 2414: 2413: 2405: 2392: 2386: 2378: 2371: 2363: 2356: 2348: 2346:9781473822573 2342: 2338: 2331: 2323: 2319: 2315: 2311: 2306: 2301: 2297: 2293: 2289: 2282: 2274: 2268: 2264: 2254: 2251: 2248: 2245: 2243: 2240: 2238: 2235: 2232: 2229: 2227: 2224: 2221: 2218: 2216: 2213: 2210: 2207: 2205: 2202: 2199: 2196: 2195: 2189: 2187: 2177: 2168: 2164: 2150: 2147: 2144: 2140: 2136: 2135: 2133: 2130: 2129: 2128: 2119: 2113: 2112: 2111: 2102: 2096: 2095: 2094: 2090: 2084: 2079: 2070: 2068: 2063: 2054: 2051: 2045: 2039: 2036: 2031: 2024: 2018: 2012: 2009: 2004: 1995: 1982: 1973: 1969: 1963: 1959: 1954: 1948:Rotary switch 1945: 1942: 1938: 1936: 1935:grooved rails 1932: 1927: 1921: 1916: 1907: 1903: 1899: 1897: 1893: 1888: 1879: 1870: 1868: 1867:Morgan system 1863: 1859: 1855: 1854:Štrbské Pleso 1851: 1847: 1843: 1839: 1835: 1831: 1824: 1820: 1816: 1812: 1803: 1800: 1795: 1792: 1788: 1780: 1771: 1768: 1762: 1752: 1749: 1744: 1741: 1735: 1732: 1728: 1725: 1719: 1714: 1709: 1699: 1695: 1693: 1689: 1682: 1678: 1673: 1664: 1661: 1651: 1647: 1644: 1640: 1636: 1632: 1628: 1624: 1620: 1616: 1606: 1597: 1587: 1584: 1572: 1570: 1566: 1555: 1552: 1545: 1540: 1531: 1528: 1524: 1522: 1518: 1514: 1510: 1503: 1498: 1489: 1487: 1482: 1478: 1475: 1470: 1468: 1463: 1455: 1450: 1442: 1433: 1431: 1427: 1423: 1422:rapid transit 1418: 1414: 1412: 1408: 1404: 1400: 1396: 1392: 1387: 1385: 1381: 1377: 1373: 1364: 1358: 1355: 1348: 1347:Langenschwarz 1342: 1341: 1334: 1328: 1319: 1315: 1312: 1303: 1294: 1291: 1281: 1278: 1272: 1267: 1262: 1257: 1253: 1249: 1245: 1241: 1240:puzzle switch 1237: 1236:double switch 1232: 1228: 1226: 1222: 1213: 1202:Slip switches 1199: 1187: 1181: 1176: 1172: 1168: 1165: 1161: 1157: 1150: 1145: 1142: 1136: 1131: 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Retrieved 2815:. SGR Uganda 2812: 2803: 2791:. Retrieved 2784:Munro, Steve 2754: 2742:|title= 2718: 2713: 2704: 2692: 2680:. Retrieved 2673: 2664: 2645: 2639: 2627:. Retrieved 2621: 2611: 2599:. Retrieved 2593: 2583: 2571:. Retrieved 2566: 2554: 2542:. Retrieved 2537: 2525: 2513:. Retrieved 2508: 2499: 2487:. Retrieved 2464:25 September 2462:. Retrieved 2455:the original 2450: 2438: 2430: 2425: 2416: 2411: 2404: 2385: 2376: 2370: 2361: 2355: 2336: 2330: 2295: 2291: 2281: 2272: 2267: 2182: 2159: 2126: 2109: 2091: 2088: 2060: 2030:oplegwissels 1998: 1970: 1966: 1943: 1939: 1928: 1924: 1904: 1900: 1895: 1886: 1884: 1830:Rack-railway 1828: 1796: 1789:are used in 1786: 1785: 1766: 1764: 1747: 1745: 1739: 1736: 1731:Catch points 1730: 1729: 1723: 1722: 1708:Catch points 1696: 1691: 1687: 1685: 1676: 1659: 1657: 1646:intersection 1586:switch tower 1561: 1551:plate switch 1550: 1548: 1544:plate switch 1543: 1534:Plate switch 1529: 1525: 1516: 1512: 1508: 1506: 1486:narrow-gauge 1483: 1479: 1471: 1461: 1459: 1453: 1419: 1415: 1406: 1402: 1398: 1394: 1390: 1388: 1383: 1379: 1371: 1369: 1316: 1310: 1308: 1297:Outside slip 1289: 1287: 1265: 1251: 1247: 1239: 1235: 1233: 1229: 1224: 1220: 1218: 1197: 1154:Switches on 1068:rail profile 1064: 1054: 1049: 1048: 1039: 1033: 1030:facing point 1029: 1025: 1021: 1017: 1015: 989:ground throw 988: 985:points lever 984: 981:switch stand 980: 978: 955: 944:W. B. Purvis 942:A patent by 941: 927: 924:switch motor 923: 921: 918:Switch motor 911:switch motor 910: 899: 898: 892: 890: 868: 862: 858: 846: 832: 829: 824: 820: 816: 814: 809: 806:point blades 805: 801: 798:switch rails 797: 795: 774:point blades 773: 770:switch rails 769: 765: 720: 694:Newport News 683:ground frame 656: 639: 622: 587: 583: 580: 576: 555: 547: 511: 507: 498: 493: 490: 466: 464: 447:railroad car 444: 439:ground frame 387: 380: 369: 356:Pyin Oo Lwin 331: 329: 323: 318: 314: 312: 307: 303: 300: 295: 286: 283:point blades 282: 279:switch rails 278: 274: 272: 243: 239: 231: 229: 179: 175: 146: 137: 127: 120: 113: 106: 94: 82:Please help 77:verification 74: 57: 3683:Track gauge 3542:Grand union 3185:Buffer stop 3145:Water crane 3057:Track gauge 2996:Tie/Sleeper 2629:13 February 2601:13 February 2044:klimwissels 2033: [ 2020:in German, 2006: [ 1986:(in French) 1972:positions. 1834:Zentralbahn 1799:guard rails 1748:trap points 1643:Lake street 1635:Orange line 1615:Chicago "L" 1474:flexibility 1462:stub switch 1454:stub switch 1436:Stub switch 1376:rail tracks 1284:Single slip 1225:double slip 1207:Double slip 1141:Abt turnout 997:lever frame 900:Check rails 861:(left) and 713:Potters Bar 671:County Cork 390:electricity 383:Charles Fox 287:stock rails 262:or where a 3718:Categories 3358:Industrial 3342:Water stop 3303:for trains 3295:Roundhouse 3269:Structures 3255:Train stop 3205:Guard rail 3180:Block post 3168:and safety 3165:Signalling 3096:third rail 3069:Rail track 3062:dual gauge 2946:Baulk road 2511:(in Dutch) 2509:Prorail.nl 2489:21 October 2259:References 1990:(in Dutch) 1846:Dolderbahn 1791:dual gauge 1688:wye switch 1677:wye switch 1667:Wye switch 1637:above the 1571:crossing. 1569:drawbridge 1565:Decauville 1558:Off-railer 1401:, or just 1322:Crossover 1026:point lock 893:guard rail 863:guard rail 751:Components 394:signal box 336:wye switch 220:Abt switch 140:April 2015 110:newspapers 3514:Junctions 3499:Rail yard 3484:Headshunt 3461:Crossover 3308:for goods 3250:Tell-tale 3081:Rail yard 3047:Guide bar 3027:Headshunt 3010:Trackwork 2976:Fishplate 2966:Date nail 2927:(history) 2850:0262-561X 2819:25 August 2813:SGR.go.ug 2793:2 October 2760:US 772736 2675:The Argus 2322:246422034 2314:2662-4753 2137:see also 1755:Derailers 1426:rush hour 1372:crossover 1340:Kirchheim 1277:Engländer 1186:Translohr 1171:Guideways 936:pneumatic 932:hydraulic 792:Old style 784:New style 698:Stewiacke 690:saboteurs 667:Buttevant 661:The 1980 653:Accidents 598:crossover 483:hydraulic 479:pneumatic 431:animation 421:Operation 385:in 1838. 376:John Curr 372:plateways 39:Point set 3577:Stations 3363:Military 3320:building 3290:Platform 3200:Derailer 3118:Roll way 3037:Junction 2936:Axe ties 2858:49957965 2192:See also 2067:sun kink 1994:Brussels 1860:and the 1858:Slovakia 1842:Tasmania 1767:derailer 1740:climbing 1692:Y points 1650:The Loop 1403:scissors 1384:trailing 1336:between 1333:Richthof 1167:rollways 1164:concrete 847:crossing 725:platform 602:crossing 486:actuator 413:, or on 3424:Railway 3373:station 3368:Private 3315:Station 2991:Profile 2941:Ballast 2878:YouTube 2682:20 July 2544:6 March 2515:30 June 2391:GB 7773 2134:1/8.25 1817:of the 871:casting 821:turnout 588:On the 512:The US 459:flanges 364:Myanmar 346:History 252:railway 240:turnout 124:scholar 3665:Spiral 3595:Island 3135:Switch 3123:Siding 2923:Tracks 2856: 2848: 2766: 2652: 2623:Trains 2573:3 July 2397: 2343: 2320: 2312: 2156:Uganda 2148:1/12.0 2145:1/10.5 1850:Zürich 1761:Derail 1619:Purple 1380:facing 1242:. The 1050:Joints 1045:Joints 1024:), or 968:Gdańsk 817:points 802:points 675:Dublin 619:Safety 455:coning 451:wheels 398:levers 324:switch 275:points 268:siding 244:points 242:, or 126: 119: 112: 105: 97: 3605:Split 3351:Types 3330:ghost 3325:clock 3299:Shed 2913:Rail 2701:(PDF) 2563:(PDF) 2534:(PDF) 2458:(PDF) 2447:(PDF) 2318:S2CID 2131:1/7.5 2037:] 2010:] 1639:Wells 1631:Green 1623:Brown 1194:Types 1034:split 604:angle 477:or a 340:radii 291:train 256:track 131:JSTOR 117:books 43:Locus 3698:Cant 3600:Side 3378:list 3335:list 2956:Cant 2854:OCLC 2846:ISSN 2821:2023 2795:2016 2746:help 2684:2011 2650:ISBN 2631:2019 2603:2019 2575:2022 2546:2022 2517:2024 2491:2012 2466:2022 2341:ISBN 2310:ISSN 2151:1/15 1962:axle 1931:tram 1821:(at 1718:yard 1641:and 1629:and 1627:Pink 1621:and 1344:and 993:ties 909:The 859:frog 857:The 796:The 707:The 679:Cork 550:frog 264:spur 103:news 41:and 3590:Bay 3552:Wye 3155:Wye 2876:on 2300:doi 2121:No. 2115:No. 2104:No. 2098:No. 2047:or 2014:or 1856:in 1848:in 1840:in 1658:An 1648:in 1382:or 1309:An 1254:in 1022:FPL 987:or 934:or 926:or 823:or 800:or 772:or 711:at 665:at 522:No. 518:No. 481:or 449:'s 358:to 281:or 266:or 238:), 86:by 3720:: 2852:. 2811:. 2773:^ 2737:: 2735:}} 2731:{{ 2723:. 2703:. 2672:. 2620:. 2592:. 2565:. 2536:. 2507:. 2474:^ 2449:. 2415:. 2316:. 2308:. 2296:30 2294:. 2290:. 2069:. 2041:, 2035:nl 2008:de 1992:, 1956:A 1852:, 1765:A 1686:A 1675:A 1549:A 1507:A 1469:. 1460:A 1413:. 1397:, 1386:. 1370:A 1288:A 1219:A 1090:A 1057:. 1016:A 979:A 922:A 891:A 776:). 715:, 669:, 642:). 445:A 330:A 310:. 298:. 248:CE 236:AE 230:A 3416:e 3409:t 3402:v 3283:/ 2906:e 2899:t 2892:v 2860:. 2823:. 2797:. 2748:) 2744:( 2686:. 2658:. 2633:. 2605:. 2577:. 2548:. 2519:. 2493:. 2468:. 2349:. 2324:. 2302:: 1690:( 1652:. 1223:( 1020:( 983:( 804:( 768:( 677:– 635:. 441:. 366:) 362:( 277:( 246:( 234:( 211:) 153:) 147:( 142:) 138:( 128:· 121:· 114:· 107:· 80:. 52:. 45:. 34:. 20:)

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