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Why Wye?
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A couple of other observations about wyes: <br /> <br />Every wye has 3 switches (or turnouts, if you prefer), 3 sides (or "legs"), and 3 tail tracks (the tracks running beyond the points of the 3 switches). The length of the train or equipment to be turned on the wye is limited by the shortest of the 3 tail tracks. <br /> <br />An entire train can be turned on a wye, engines included, so long as the shortest tail track will accommodate its length. <br /> <br />A wye might also be used to turn a single car. This is done by the prototype to get a car properly oriented for unloading. Box cars and reefers often were loaded in such a way that they could only be unloaded from one side at their destination. When piggyback flats were loaded and unloaded by semi tractors at ramps, the cars had to be correctly oriented to let the tractors reach the front of the trailers. So it wasn't uncommon to have to turn single freight cars. That was conveniently done with a wye, although it also could be done with a turntable.
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