Points and crossings

Points, crossings, turnouts, cross overs are arrangements by which different

routes are connected and afford the trains move from one route to another.
The following are the main parts of a turnout:
1. A pair of points or switches
2. A pair of stock rail
3. A vee crossing
4. Two check rails
5. Four lead rails
6. Switch tie plate or Gauge tie plate and crossing tie plate
7. Bearing plates, slide chairs, stretcher bars, distance blocks, Heel block
etc.,
8. For operating points- Rods, cranks, levers etc.,
9. For locking system-Locking box, lock bar, etc.,

Line Diagram of a Left hand Turnout

Important terms in Points and crossing:

1. Facing direction: Stand at toe of switch and look towards the
crossing and the direction is called facing direction.
2. Trailing direction: Stand at crossing and look towards the switches
and the direction is called Trailing direction.
3. Facing points of turn out: Are the points where the trains pass over
the points and then pass over the crossing.
4. Trailing points of turn out: Are those where trains pass over the
crossing and then pass over Points.
5. Right Hand and Left hand switches: They are called left or right
hand switches depending upon left or right when seen from the facing
direction.

6. Right hand and left Hand turnout: If train from main track is
diverted to the right of the main route in the facing direction then this
is called Right hand turn out. If train from main track is diverted to the
left of the main route in the facing direction then this is called left hand
turn out.
A turn out works with the combination of points and crossing which consists
of a pair of points, four lead rails (two straight and two curved), two check
rails and a crossing.
A pair of points: Each set of a point consists of a tongue rail and a stock
rail. A tongue rail is tapered rail having toe at one end and heel at other end.
This is fixed at heel end to regular cross section and alignment, and tongue
rail is moved about heel and in one pair it is tight against stock rail and in
other it leaves a gap thorough which it permits the wheel to enter. The
direction can be set either to main line or branch line.
A crossing (one piece): Consist of a point rail and a splice rail. The point
where these rails meet is known as Nose of crossing. Check rails are provided
on either side of crossing for guiding one wheel and to check the tendency of
the other wheel climbing over the Noosing. Wing rails help to channelize the
wheels in their routes.
A pair of points consists of:
1. A pair of stock rails
2. A pair of tongue rails
3. Heel block or distance block
4. Stretcher bar
5. Switch tie plate or Gauge tie plate
6. Slide chairs
7. Studs or stops
Following terms are associated with points:
1. Heel clearance or heel divergence.
2. Flange way clearance and Flange way depth.
3. Switch angle.

4. Throw of switch.

The length of the tongue rail depends upon the switch rail and long
tongue rail will increase the length of the turn out and short will increase
the angle of crossing.

Crossings
Crossing consists of

1. A crossing or vee piece

2. Point and splice rail
3. Wing rail
4. Check rail
5. Chairs at crossing at nose, at heel and distance block
Important terms used in crossing:
1. Theoretical nose of crossing and actual nose of crossing: The
sharp imaginary points where the two gauge faces of crossing will
meet is known as theoretical nose of crossing. All the calculations are
made with respect to theoretical nose of crossing. Actual nose of
crossing is the point where the blunt nose is provided on the point rail.

2. Number

of crossing and angle of crossing: It is the ratio of the

spread at the leg of the crossing to the length of the crossing from
TNC. It is denoted by N. More the angle of crossing lesser will be the
speed.

Design calculation of turnout

Notations used in design calculations are
CL=Curve lead, which is the distance between the theoretical nose of
crossing (TNC) and the tangent point `T measured along the length of main
track
SL=Switch lead, which is the distance between the tangent point `T and the
heel of the switch measured along the length of the track
L=Lead or crossing lead, which is the distance between TNC and the heel of
the switch measured along the length of the main track
CL=SL+L
=Angle of switch
=Angle of crossing
d=Heel divergence
R0=Radius of outer curve of turnout
R=Radius of center line of turnout
G=Gauge of track
N=Number of crossing

D=Distance between TNC and tangent point of crossing curve

Method 1:
1. All the three leads are calculated ie., CL, SL, and L are
calculated.
2. Crossing angle is calculated or used by right angle method.
3. Crossing curve is assumed to start from an imaginary
tangent point ahead of actual toe of switch and end at TNC.
4. Tongue rail is straight.
5. Kinks are caused at toe of switch because tongue rail is
straight, at heel of switch because tongue rail is not
tangential to the curve and at toe of crossing because the
curve is carried up to TNC but crossing is straight.

CL=2GN or 2 RoG
R0=1.5G+2GN2

SL= 2 Rod
d = (SL)2/2R0

L=2GN - 2 Rod
G

R= R0 - 2

o=

CL
sin

N=cot

Method 2
1. Only the crossing lead `L is calculated.
2. The curve is tangential to the tongue rail and springs up from the heel
and ends at TNC.
3. Kink at the heel of the switch is removed.

+
L= (G-d) cot 2
G
R=R0 - 2

Gd

R0= cos cos

Method 3
1. Straight length at
the crossing is
provided.
2. One end of the
curve is tangential
to the tongue rail
and springs up
from heel of the
switch and other
end springs up
from the toe of the
crossing and is
tangential to the
straight length of
the crossing.
3. By the use of this method only the kink at the toe of switch will remain.

Gdx sin
R0 = cos cos

G
+
L = x + - d - xsin cot 2
cos