Other Track Types

A railroad switch is a mechanical installation enabling trains to be guided from one track to another. In the UK and Commonwealth countries, railroad switches are known as (sets of) points. In technical usage switches are also called turnouts. more...

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In the diagram on the right, rail track A divides into two: track B (the straight track) and track C (the diverging track). The switch consists of the pair of linked tapering rails, known as points (switch rails or point blades), lying between the diverging outer rails (the stock rails). These points can be moved laterally into one of two positions so as to determine whether a train coming from A will be led towards B or towards C. A train moving from the A direction towards either B or C is said to be executing a facing-point movement.

Unless the switch is locked, a train coming from B or C will be led to A 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 trailing-point movement.

A switch can be described by the direction in which the diverging track leaves the straight track. A right-hand switch has track C to the right of a straight track formed by A and B. A left-hand switch has track C to the left.

A straight track is not always present; for example, both tracks may curve, one to the left and one to the right (see Wye switch, below) or both tracks may curve, with differing radii, in the same direction.

Operation

A railroad car's wheels are guided along the tracks by coning of the wheels. Only in extreme cases does it rely on the flanges located 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 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.

A mechanism is provided to move the points from one position to the other (change the points). Historically, this would require a lever to be moved by a human operator, and some switches are still controlled in this way. However, most are now operated by a remotely controlled electric motor or by pneumatic or hydraulic actuation.

In a trailing-point movement, the wheels will force the points to the proper position. This is sometimes known as running through the switch. 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. .

Read more at Wikipedia.org