POINTS & CROSSINGS

-Goutham Sarang-

Points and Crossings

To help transfer trains from one track to another
parallel, diverging, or converging

Necessary since wheels train wheels have inside flanges and,

hence require to navigate on rails

Points or switches divert vehicles
Crossings provide gaps in rails, for flanged wheels to roll
over them
A complete set of P&C, along with lead rails a turnout

Terms
Turnout arrangement of P&C with lead rails, to divert rolling

stock from one track to another

Direction Right Hand TO, Left Hand TO

Tongue rail/ Switch rail a tapered movable rail, with high-

carbon or -manganese steel to withstand wear.

thicker end (heel) - attached to a running rail

Stock rail the running rail against which a tongue rail

operates

Terms
Points/ Switches A pair of tongue and stock rails
Crossing device introduced at junction where two rails cross

each other to permit wheel flange to pass from one track to

another
Facing direction from toe of switch towards crossing;
opposite is Trailing direction
Facing point of TO where trains pass over switches first and
then crossing; vice versa is Trailing point of TO
Check rails Extra rails bent at both ends and placed parallel
to running rails to guide and provide a path to wheel flanges
Throw of switch distance by which tongue rails move
laterally at toe of switch, for movement of trains

Turnout

Working

Changing Track

Points or Switches

Stock rails, AB & CD

with medium-manganese steel

A pair of heel blocks

hold heel of tongue rails at standard
clearance or distance from stock rails

Tongue/switch rails, PQ & RS

with medium-manganese steel
Machined to a very thin section to
obtain a snug fit with the stock rail
Tapered end - toe
Thicker end - heel

Points or Switches

Slide chairs/ Sliding plates

support tongue rail and enable its movement towards or away from stock rail

Two or more stretcher bars

connect both tongue rails close to toe, for holding them at a fixed distance
from each other

Switch tie plate/ gauge tie plate

fix gauges and ensure correct gauge at the points

Types of Switches
Stud switch
No separate tongue rail, instead some portion of track is moved
from one side to other side
Simplest type
No more in use in IR

Split switch
consist of a pair of stock rails and a pair of tongue rails
Two types on the basis of fixation at heel
loose heel type and fixed heel type

Two types based on toe

undercut and overriding

Types of Switches
Loose heel or Articulated type

Tongue rail finishes at heel of switch for movement of free end of tongue rail
Fish plates holding tongue rail may be straight or slightly bent
Tongue rail - fastened to stock rail using a fishing fit block and four bolts
Fish bolts in lead rail - tightened, but kept loose or snug in tongue rail to
allow free movement of tongue
As discontinuity of track at heel is a weakness, NOT preferred

Fixed heel or Spring or Flexible type

Tongue rail not ending at heel of switch, but extends further and is
rigidly connected
Movement at toe of switch due to flexibility of tongue rail
Can be hand operated or by rod from a lever

Types of Switches
Undercut switch
Foot of stock rail is planed to accommodate tongue rail
Becomes weak since a flange portion is cut out

Types of Switches
Overriding switch
Separate rail sections of stock and tongue rails
Instead of cutting flange heavy stock rail and lighter tongue rail
sections
Stock rail - full section; Tongue rail - planed to a 6mm (0.25")
thick edge
Tongue rail rides over flange of stock rail

Types of Switches
Overriding switch Modified
Tongue rail - kept 6mm
higher than stock rail
from heel to point
towards toe where
planing starts
To eliminate possibility
of splitting due to any
false flange moving in
trailing direction

Crossing or Frog
Device introduced at point where two gauge faces cross each

other to permit the flanges of a railway vehicle to pass from

one track to another
Gap - from throat to nose of crossing, over which flanged
wheel glides or jumps

Crossing or Frog

Trailing

Crossing or Frog
2 rails: point rail and splice rail machined to form a

nose
Point rail ends at nose
Splice rail joins it a little behind the nose
Point rail should end in a point and be as thin as possible, but
would break off
Point rail - fine end slightly cut off to form a blunt nose, with a
thickness of 6mm
Toe of blunt nose - actual nose of crossing (ANC)
Theoretical point where gauge faces from both sides intersect theoretical nose of crossing (TNC)
Crossing angle < b/w gauge faces of point and splice rails
Heel of crossing line joins ends of point and splice rails

Crossing or Frog
2 wing rails: a right-hand and a left-hand - converge to

form a throat and diverge again on either side of nose

Flared at ends to facilitate entry and exit of flanged wheel in the gap
Toe of crossing line joins ends of wing rails

Throat narrow space b/w 2 wing rails

A pair of check rails
Guide wheel flanges and
provide a path for them
Prevent them from moving
sideways
Otherwise may result in wheel
hitting nose of crossing as it
moves in facing direction

Types of Crossings
Acute angle crossing or V crossing intersection of

two gauge faces forms an acute angle

When a right hand rail of one track crosses a left hand rail of
another track or vice versa
Unlike rail crossings
A and C

Types of Crossings
Obtuse or diamond crossing intersection of two

gauge faces meet at an obtuse angle

When a right hand or left hand rail crosses a similar rail
B and D

Types of Crossings
Square crossing two tracks cross at right angles
rarely used in actual practice

Number and Angle of Crossing

Crossing - designated either by angle b/w the gauge

faces or by number of crossing (N)

N = Spread at leg of crossing Length of crossing from TNC

Design of Turnout Terms

Method I Coles Method

T Toe of Switch
L Heel of Switch
E TNC
M Point on Turnout at heel

Design of Turnout
Method I Coles Method

T Toe of Switch
L Heel of Switch
E TNC
M Point on Turnout at heel

Design of Turnout

Method II
IRS Method

T Toe of Switch
B Heel of Switch
H Toe of Crossing