Angle of Crossing

Angle between gauge faces of point rail and

splice rail is known as angle of crossing.
There are three methods to set the crossing
angle.
• Right Angle Method (Cole’s Method)
• Centerline Method
• Isosceles Method
 Size of Crossing
• Find out the values of crossing angles for
1:12 by using all three methods.

• Find out the values of crossing angles for

1:8.5 by using all three methods.
Switch
• Switch is the combination of stock rail and
tongue rail.
• The distance between stock rail and tongue rail
at the heel of switch is heel divergence.
Its value depends upon flange clearance and
width of rail head.
• The value of switch angle depends on heel
divergence and length of tongue.
• For BG heel divergence varies from 5 1/4” to
5 3/8”
 Turnout

Stock Rail

Heel of Switch Stock Rail

Toe of Switch

5
Tongue Rail
 Length of Switch
• Crossing Size • Length of Switch
– 1 :16 – 32 ft

– 1:12 – 21 ft

– 1 in 8.5 – 15.5 ft
Types of Switches based on Shape
– Undercut Switch
– Straightcut Switch
– Over-riding Switch
Types of Switches based on Shape

• Undercut Switch
– The tongue rail at the toe of the switch is
planed so that the toe is accommodated
under the head of the stock rail.
– In modified section, half web of the tongue rail
is below the head of the stock rail and the
width of top of tongue rail is increased. This
modification reduces the splitting tendency of
tongue.
 Stock
Rail

Tongue
Rail

Undercut Modified Undercut

Switch Switch
Types of Switches based on Shape
• Straight Cut Switch
– The tongue rail is kept slightly in line with the
stock rail.
– This is usually provided for Bull headed rails
• Overriding Switch
– The tongue rail slides over the foot of the
stock rail.
 Various Types of Turnouts
• Double Turnout
• Diamond Crossing
• Symmetrical split
• Crossover
• Gathering Lines
• Gauntlet Track
• Temporary Diversion
Double Turnout
• This is also known as tandem.
• Two turnouts take off from the main track.
Diamond Crossing
• When two tracks of same gauge or
different gauges cross each other in such
a manner that two angles are acute and
two angles are obtuse.

Diamond Crossing
 Symmetrical Split
• This is also known as equivalent turnout.
• If two similar turnouts are taken out from
the straight track in two different directions
such a junction is known as symmetrical
split.
Sy
Symmetrical Split
Cross-over
• Transfer of a train from one continuous
track to another continuous track.
• The track may or may not be parallel to
each other.
• Crossover consists of two sets of points
and crossings.
Scissors Cross-over
• This is also known as double cross-over.
• This track junction enables trains from
opposite direction to change the track.
• If the space is insufficient, scissors cross-
over is used.
Scissors Cross-over
Gathering Lines
• When a number of parallel lines are
connected together with the main track,
the connecting lines are called as
gathering lines. Also known as ‘Ladder
Track’.
Gauntlet Track
• The track which essentially is super-
imposition of one track over another.
• When two lines of different gauges are
required to cross a common bridge. In this
case three rails are laid for the two tracks,
one rail is common to both of them.
• This arrangement saves the cost of an
extra bridge.
Gauntlet Track
 Temporary Diversion
• Whenever certain stretch of the track has
to be closed for one reason or the other,
the traffic is diverted by providing a
temporary diversion.
 Stations and Yards
Station means any place on a railway line,
where
• Traffic is batched.
• Authority to proceed is given to trains.
• Movement of the train is controlled to
avoid accidents.
 Requirements of Railway
Station
The general features for a railway station
can be classified into following categories.
• General
• Public
• Traffic
• Locomotive
 Requirements for Railway
Station
General
• Suitable approach roads to station, offices
for the staff
Public
• Waiting room, Mosque, booking office,
platform, Sanitary arrangement, Water
supply, Restaurants, Telephone, parking
 Requirements for Railway
Station
Traffic
• Signals, sidings / side loops
Locomotives
• Watering, fueling, inspection and repair,
arrangement to change the direction of
locomotive
 Layout of Single Line Station
• Single Line Station has one main running
track but additional loops or sidings are
provided for the crossing of trains or for
the parking of goods trains.
• Turnouts are used to divert the trains from
one line to other line.
Layout of Single Line Railway
Station
 Layout of Double Line Station
• In this case, two main running tracks are
there. Crossovers are provided between
the two main tracks.
• Advantage of Double Line Station:
If the two trains are running in the same
direction then the fast moving train can
pass the slow moving train without any
disturbance.
Layout of Double Line Station
Junction
• Junction is a station where a branch line
track meets the main line or any other
combination.
• Special arrangements are made for
interchanging of traffic between the branch
line and the main line.
Terminal
Terminal is a station at which a railway line
or one of its branches terminates or ends.

Dead End / Buffer Stop

It is provided where the track ends. Buffer
is a spring loaded device which absorbs
the shocks in case the train touches it.
Terminal
Dead End/ Buffer Stop
Dead End / Buffer Stop
• It is provided where the track ends. Buffer
is a spring loaded device which absorbs
the shocks in case the train touches it.
BUFFER STOP
DEAD END
Platform
• Passengers Platform
• Goods Platform
Passengers Platform
• Minimum width = 12 ft. (The width varies
but minimum is 12 ft. beyond which
buildings are constructed)
• The length should not be less than the
longest passengers train.
• In Pakistan, length is 600 ft. – 1000 ft.
• Minimum height above the rail level is 2.5’
to 2.75’.
 Goods Platform
• Height of the goods platform is more than
the height of the passenger platform.
• Normally, the top of the goods platform is
flushed with the floor level of the goods
wagons so that bulky articles can easily be
loaded and unloaded in the wagons easily.
 Yards
• Yard is the network of tracks laid within definite
limits for sorting of vehicles and making up of
trains.
• Yards are usually laid on level ground as gradient
in case of yards is not desirable.
• Normally 1:1000 and in difficult situation 1 in 400.
• Layout of the yard depends upon passengers
traffic and goods traffic (i.e., type of traffic).
 Yards
• Yard is the network of tracks laid within
definite limits for sorting of vehicles and
making up of trains.
• The railway yards are divided into
- Passengers Yard
- Goods Yard
- Marshalling Yard
- Locomotive yard or Loco Yard
 Passengers Yard
• The function of the passengers yard is to
provide facility for the movement of
passengers and vehicles meant for the
passengers.
 Goods Yard
• A goods yard has to cater for the receipt,
loading, unloading and delivery of goods
and movement of goods vehicles.
• This portion includes facility for goods
traffic, loop lines, goods shed and
machinery for loading and unloading of
bulky items.
 Locomotive Yard

• It is the space where facilities have to be

provided for stabling and servicing of
locomotives.
• The loco yard contains a number of tracks
leading engine to shed, inspection pits,
repair pits, turntable, repair shed, water
columns for filling water etc.
 Marshalling Yard

• Marshalling yards are used for the sorting

of the goods vehicles and to arrange the
wagons, in order of their destination.
• Marshalling yards are the distributing
centers.
• Empty wagons are also kept in
marshalling yard and dispatched to
different stations as and when required.
 Design Requirements for
Marshalling Yard
• Marshalling yards should be designed in such a
manner that shunting operation does not disturb
the schedule of the regular trains.
• It should be located parallel to the main line.
• Marshalling yard should be designed in such a
way that maximum number of wagons can be
dispatched to their destination in short time.
 Design Requirement for
Marshalling Yard

• Movement of vehicles should be

preferably in one direction so that process
will be easier and conflicts are the
minimum.
• Necessary repair facilities should be
provided in marshalling yard.
 Layout of Marshalling Yard
It consists of
• Reception Siding
• Sorting Siding
• Departure Siding
 Reception Siding

• These are sidings where the incoming

goods vehicles are received and wait for
their turn for shunting operation.
• The shape of reception sidings are in the
form of a grid and their lengths are kept
equal.
 Sorting Siding

• These are the sidings where shunting operation

is carried out.
(From reception sidings, trains go to the sorting
sidings).
• Each track of the siding is allotted to wagons
bound for one particular destination.
• Their number depends upon on the number of
destinations or group of stations to which
wagons have to be dispatched.
 Departure Siding

• Departure sidings are optional, these

would depend upon the intensity on the
main track.
• If the main track is frequently busy then
departure sidings should be provided. It is
also in the form of grid as the reception
sidings.
Marshalling Yard
 Yards based on Topography
Depending upon the topography, marshalling
yards are of following types:

• Flat Yard
• Gravitational Yard
• Hump Yard
 Types of Yards
Flat Yard
In flat yards, all movements of the wagons
are carried out with the help of engines.
Such yards are only justified where space
is limited.
 Types of Yards
Gravitational Yard
In gravitation yards the tracks are laid at
suitable gradient and the wagons are
moved under gravity influence. The
movement is controlled by the wagon
brakes. This is ideal type of marshalling
yard but is handicapped due to topography
of the area.
 Types of Yards
Hump Yard
A hump yard is one in which the wagons
are pushed up to a summit by an engine
and move down on the opposite slopes
into various sidings under the influence of
gravity.
Hump Yard