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2.4 Branching of Tracks

The document discusses different types of railway track junctions including diamond crossings, scissors crossovers and triangles. It describes the components and purposes of turnouts and defines important terms. Regular inspection and maintenance of points and crossings is emphasized due to the risk of accidents.

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213 views5 pages

2.4 Branching of Tracks

The document discusses different types of railway track junctions including diamond crossings, scissors crossovers and triangles. It describes the components and purposes of turnouts and defines important terms. Regular inspection and maintenance of points and crossings is emphasized due to the risk of accidents.

Uploaded by

debb-bflat
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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2.

4 BRANCHING OF TRACKS

Introduction
Points and crossings are provided to help transfer railway vehicles from one track to
another. The tracks may be parallel to, diverging from, or converging with each other.
Some Important Terms
The following terms are often used in the design of points and crossings.
Turnout: It is an arrangement of points and crossings with lead rails by means of which the
rolling stock may be diverted from one track to another. Fig. 1(a) shows the various
constituents of a turnout.

Fig. 1(a) Constituents of a turnout


Direction of a turnout: A turnout is designated as a right-hand or a left-hand turnout
depending on whether it diverts the traffic to the right or to the left. In Fig. 1(a), the turnout is
a right-hand turnout because it diverts as the traffic towards the right side. Fig. 1(b) shows a
left-hand turnout. The direction of a point (or turnout) is known as the facing direction if a
vehicle approaching the turnout or a point has to first face the thin end of the switch. The
direction is trailing direction if the vehicle has to negotiate a switch in the trailing direction
i.e., the vehicle first negotiates the crossing and then finally traverses on the switch from its
thick end to its thin end. Therefore, when standing at the toe of a switch, if one looks in the
direction of the crossing, it is called the facing direction and the opposite direction is called
the trailing direction.
Fig. 1(b) Left-hand turnout
Tongue rail: It is a tapered movable rail, made of high-carbon or -manganese steel to
withstand wear. At its thicker end, it is attached to a running rail. A tongue rail is also called a
switch rail.
Stock rail: It is the running rail against which a tongue rail operates.
Points or switch: A pair of tongue and stock rails with the necessary connections and fittings
forms a switch.
Crossing: A crossing is a device introduced at the junction where two rails cross each other
to permit the wheel flange of a railway vehicle to pass from one track to another.
Types of Crossings
A crossing may be of the following types:
(a) An acute crossing in which the intersection of the two gauge faces forms an acute angle.
For example, when a right rail crosses a left rail, it makes an acute crossing. Thus, unlike rail
crossings form an acute crossing (A and C of fig. 3).
(b) An obtuse crossing in which the two gauge faces meet at an obtuse angle. When a right or
left rail crosses a similar rail, it makes an obtuse crossing (B and D of fig. 3).
(c) A square crossing in which two tracks cross at right angles. Such crossings are rarely
used in actual practice (fig. 2).

Fig. 2 Square crossing


Track Junctions
Track junctions are formed by the combination of points and crossings. Their main
objective is to transfer rail vehicles from one track to another or to enable them to cross from
one track to another. Depending upon the requirements of traffic, there can be several types
of track junctions with simple track layouts.
Diamond Crossing
A diamond crossing is provided when two tracks of either the same gauge or of different
gauges cross each other. It consists of two acute crossings (A and C) and two obtuse
crossings (B and D). A typical diamond crossing consisting of two tracks of the same gauge
crossing each other, is shown in the Fig. 3.

Fig. 3 Diamond crossing


Scissors Crossover
A scissors crossover (Fig. 4) is meant for transferring a vehicle from one track to another
track and vice versa. It is provided where lack of space does not permit the provision of two
separate crossovers. It consists of four pairs of switches, six acute crossings, two obtuse
crossings, check rails, etc.

Fig. 4 Scissors crossover


Triangle
The triangles are constructed for changing the direction of engines. They require large
area and hence they are constructed where sufficient land is available for their construction.
Also, the triangles are justified at unimportant stations where installation of a turntable is not
justified. The maintenance cost of the triangle is less as compared to that of the turntable.
Generally, a triangle consists of three tracks PQ, QS and SP. A dead end siding QR is
provided at point Q to accommodate the length of the engine. If space permits, the length of
QR should be kept slightly more than the lengths of two locomotives. Generally, the tracks
PQ and SQ are curved and track PS is straight (fig. 5a).
Fig. 5 (a) Triangle
But sometimes, all the three tracks are laid on curves as shown in fig. 5 (b). Also, the
tracks PQ and SQ are normally symmetrically situated. But due to local obstructions of
buildings or peculiar shape of land or such similar reason, the triangles are very often
unsymmetrical with curves of different radii and even pieces of straight track.

Fig. 5 (b) Triangle


Inspection and Maintenance of Points and Crossings
It is observed that about 90 per cent of serious railway accidents occur in the world at or
over points and crossings. This is due to the fact that switches form the weakest points of the
track. Hence great care should be taken to keep points and crossings in perfect running order.
It should also be noted that the inspection of points and crossings is carried out under the
moving trains because only in this condition, their actual defects will be noted. A definite
programme should be lined out for the maintenance of various points and crossings on the
track. Following items should be carefully attended:
1) If there is any creep, it should be removed. The anti creep brackets should be
provided behind the heel of switch and the wing rail of crossing.
2) The sleepers should be checked periodically and if they have moved, they should be
correctly spaced.
3) All sleepers should be thoroughly packed.
4) The drainage arrangements should be properly made for points and crossings.
5) The screening of ballast under points and crossings should be carried out at regular
intervals.
6) The clearances between check rail, tongue rail and wing rail should be checked and
rectified, if necessary.
7) The interlocking connections must fit tightly.
8) The lubrication to various components of the points and crossings should be done
periodically.

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