Tanks next to tracks

[MMLDelete]

Thanks guys. Now I get it.

I was thinking that at the switch itself there is always a straight part and a curved part. But I guess I was thinking of a switch in model railroading where one route is always straight-on.

But in the real world, can you have a switch where neither route, right at the switch itself is straight? For example a perfecty symmetrical bifurcation, with equal curvature in each direction? (Maybe some switches in wyes are like this?)

"Two railroads diverged in a yellow wood ... "

[zugmann]

Lithonia Operator

But in the real world, can you have a switch where neither route, right at the switch itself is straight? For example a perfecty symmetrical bifurcation, with equal curvature in each direction? (Maybe some switches in wyes are like this!)

Yes. 

 

 http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/181850.aspx  

 Sorry, I can't get the stupid thing to light up. 

[MMLDelete]

Thanks, zug.

I pasted the link and saw the pix.

[BaltACD]

Lithonia Operator

Thanks guys. Now I get it.

I was thinking that at the switch itself there is always a straight part and a curved part. But I guess I was thinking of a switch in model railroading where one route is always straight-on.

But in the real world, can you have a switch where neither route, right at the switch itself is straight? For example a perfecty symmetrical bifurcation, with equal curvature in each direction? (Maybe some switches in wyes are like this?)

"Two railroads diverged in a yellow wood ... "

High speed switch (200 KPH) - 8 switch machines move the points, 3 switch machines move the movable point frog.  I don't know which side is normal or reverse.

[Deggesty]

That certainly is a High Speed turnout; I wonder what number it is. It certainly can use a moveable frog.

[MMLDelete]

Thanks for the pic, Balt. That's one serious switch!

Are the multiple machines used to ensure the points are pressing super-hard to the rail? It doesn't seem like one would need so many machines to merely move it.

[BaltACD]

Lithonia Operator

Thanks for the pic, Balt. That's one serious switch!

Are the multiple machines used to ensure the points are pressing super-hard to the rail? It doesn't seem like one would need so many machines to merely move it.

I believe I read somewhere that the points on that switch are in the neighborhood of 160 feet long - that is a lot of steel to move in a reliable fashion.  By the same token the movable point frog also has a lot of steel to move.

[Overmod]

BaltACD

I believe I read somewhere that the points on that switch are in the neighborhood of 160 feet long - that is a lot of steel to move in a reliable fashion.

That, and it has to be kept anchored against considerable shock, and perhaps lightly transition-spiraled, when it has moved.