A railroad switch, also called a turnout or a set of points, is a mechanical installation that lets railway trains be guided from one track to another, as at a junction or where a siding branches off. The common type has a pair of linked tapering rails, the points or switch blades, lying between the diverging stock rails and moved sideways to send a train down the straight or the diverging path. Simple single-bladed switches served on early wooden railways and iron plateways, and in 1797 John Curr described a system with a single iron blade hinged on a vertical pin, which was in common use by 1808. Charles Fox patented a sprung rail giving a smooth transition in 1838. Switches were later worked from signal boxes by rods and levers and tied to signals through interlockings, and most are now moved by remote switch machines.
Facts
Material or Power Source Material or Power Source Connections
Associated With
Source Charles Fox (engineer, born 1810) (Wikipedia)
In Field
Source Railroad switch (Wikipedia)
Invented
Source Railroad switch (Wikipedia)
Sources
1. Railroad switch (Wikipedia)
History, 1797
In 1797, John Curr 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.
Lead, purpose
A railroad switch (AE), turnout, or (set of) points (CE) is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at a railway junction or where a spur or siding branches off.
Operation, manual levers
Historically, this would require a lever to be moved by a human operator, and some switches are still controlled this way.
Operation, switch machines
However, most are now operated by a remotely controlled actuator called a switch machine or point machine, which may contain an electric motor or a pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.
In Field: Civil Engineering, Lead, installation on railway track
A railroad switch (AE), turnout, or (set of) points (CE) is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at a railway junction or where a spur or siding branches off.
Invented: Charles Fox (engineer, born 1810), History, sprung rail patent
The use of a sprung rail, giving a smooth transition, was patented by Charles Fox in 1838.
In Group: Road and Rail Traffic Works, Lead, railway track installation
A railroad switch (AE), turnout, or (set of) points (CE) is a mechanical installation enabling railway trains to be guided from one track to another, such as at a railway junction or where a spur or siding branches off.
View the SourceCharles Fox (engineer, born 1810) (Wikipedia)
Associated With: Charles Fox (engineer, born 1810), Railways, points patentQuote, Associated With: Charles Fox (engineer, born 1810), Railways, points patent
One of his earliest inventions, patented in 1838, was railway points, which superseded the sliding rail used up to that time.
Reader Challenges (0)
No disputes yet. Spotted an error or a better source? Open the first one.
Sign in to dispute this or suggest a correction.