Real world switches

[NDORFN]

What a crap place to have a derailer... right on top of that hill.

[thecanadianrail]

Well I just watched that video at work again and what I was trying to explain before is what is called a "pipe connected derail"

[PapaXpress]

What a crap place to have a derailer... right on top of that hill.

They didn't want trains launching into space.

[mapitts]

Well I just watched that video at work again and what I was trying to explain before is what is called a "pipe connected derail"

Now I know exactly what you are talking about. When you throw the switch the derail ( pipe connected ) goes up on the head of the rail when the points are lined for the main. Only places I remember those where on the leads into a couple of plants and in their load out areas. They also had to be blue flag protected. Funny how one area of the world calls the same thing something else in the another part of the world. We called them just simply derails, sometimes a top rail derail if it was broken.

[NDORFN]

What a crap place to have a derailer... right on top of that hill.

They didn't want trains launching into space.

Fair enough.

[Rich_S]

One last switch no one mentioned is the "Variable switch". "Which is also known as a "Flop switch" or a "Run Through switch", the railroad I work for the switch body is painted orange. It is similar to a spring switch, the only difference is when the points are moved by the flanges they do not spring back to their original position, the points flop to the other rail. With a spring switch, you cannot make a reverse move through the switch unless you manually throw the switch. With a "Flop Switch" you can make a reverse move through the switch as long as you verify the switch did in fact flop. I believe we are the last yard to have "Flop switches" and as they wear out, they are being replaced by rigid bow handle switches.

[mapitts]

I worked on a railroad for about 2 1/2 years in the mid '80s. Never saw a flop switch. I got out and started an appreticeship as a pipe welder and fitter. There is so much I have forgotten that it is just down right sad. Every now and then something will jog my memory. With the exception of 2 people, everyone I knew has retired, been fired, quit, or has died. Extra board did not allow you much. I always called it broke and away from home. Pipe welding has been very good for me. 4th generation in my family now. I made the mistake of combining a hobby with my job. Ont of my friends still works on the railroad and is a railfan to boot. Don't see how he does it. When I get home form work, the last thing I want to see is a bunch of pipe or a welding machine. I do have a welding machine but, very few people know I have it.

[thecanadianrail]

One last switch no one mentioned is the "Variable switch". "Which is also known as a "Flop switch" or a "Run Through switch", the railroad I work for the switch body is painted orange. It is similar to a spring switch, the only difference is when the points are moved by the flanges they do not spring back to their original position, the points flop to the other rail. With a spring switch, you cannot make a reverse move through the switch unless you manually throw the switch. With a "Flop Switch" you can make a reverse move through the switch as long as you verify the switch did in fact flop. I believe we are the last yard to have "Flop switches" and as they wear out, they are being replaced by rigid bow handle switches.

Actually I did mention this, the video I watched (made by CN in 1979 btw) referred to this as the "automatic switch". I did forget to mention about powered switches as well (these days most people call them automatic switches for some reason?)

[Rich_S]

Actually I did mention this, the video I watched (made by CN in 1979 btw) referred to this as the "automatic switch"

I never head of a Variable switch referred to as a Automatic switch, maybe that is CN terminology? I've heard some people calling a Flop switch a rubber switch, but most of the time if you say rubber switch, most guys will think of a spring switches. We still have a few old timers that refer to the variable switches as "Run Through" but most of the guys I work with call them Flop switches. Terminology is kind of funny these days, you read through the rule book and on one page they call it a switch and on the next page they call it a turnout. What gets really confusing is talk to a few guys from across the pond. We call the movable parts of a switch the points, but across the pond that is the name for the entire switch. They call the movable part of the switch the blades. I've never ask them if the frog is still called a frog?