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Beginner topic: What is a runaround? (Updated)
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I don't want to rain on anybody's parade - I appreciate humor as well as the next guy - although some of the e-mail I get indicates that my humor is either misunderstood or not appreciated - but I took SpaceMouse's topic as a serious one. <br /> <br />So <font size="6"><i>SERIOUSLY</font id="size6"></i> I went to my trusty <i><b>Railway Age's <font size="2">Comprehensive</font id="size2"> <font size="4">Railroad Dictionary</font id="size4"></b>, Second Edition, (Simmons-Boardman, Omaha, 2002</i>. <br /> <br />(pg 212) - <b>run-around</b> 1.A track that is constructed to bypass yard congestion. 2. The act of moving a locomotive from one end of the train to the other. <br /> <br />Your example has cars parked on a; <br /> <br />(pg 233) - <b>spur track</b> As distinguished from a side track a spur track is of indefinite length, extending out from the main track. <br /> <br />More specifically your example refers to a <i>facing-point <b>spur track</b></i>, so called because the switch into the spur track is <i>facing</i> the direction of movement. <br /> <br />To drop or pick-up cars from a <i>facing-point </i><b>spur track</b> one must perform a; <br /> <br /><i><b>run-around</i></b> (see def. 2. above); to accompli***his one needs a; <br /> <br />(pg 224) - <b>siding</b> A track auxiliary to the main track for meeting or passing trains. (Standard Code) <br /> <br />NOTE; "Standard Code" refers to an AAR definition or specification i.e. this is what the AAR states is the definition of a <b>siding</b>. Sidings have switches at both ends; if there is only one switch involved you have a <i><b>side track</i></b>. <i><b>Side track</i></b> and <i><b>sidings</i></b> are frequently used interchangably but technically there is a difference. Technically <i><b>spur tracks</i></b> are also <i><b>side tracks</i></b> except in extremely rare cases where <i><b>spur tracks</i></b> are <i><b>sidings</i></b>. <br /> <br /><b>PICKY-PICKY-PICKY</b>. I am not a railroader; to be honest, I have never wanted to be a railroader (gasp!!!) - except for the proverbial " golden parachutes" railroaders have the best retirement program in the business, but God, do they have to work to get it!!!; I have, however, been a modeler for over forty years and I have, in that time, had some association with modelers who were also railroaders. Pardon me, but I don't think I have ever heard a <i><b>siding</b></i> referred to as a <i><b>runaround</b></i>.
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