Chapter: Civil : Railway Airport Harbour Engineering : Railway Engineering : Track Junctions and Simple Track Layouts
Railway Track Junctions: Double Turnout
Double Turnout
A double turnout or tandem is an improvement over a
three-throw switch. In a double turnout, turnouts are staggered and take off
from the main line at two different places. This eliminates the defects of a
three-throw switch, as the heels of the two switches are kept at a certain distance
from each other. The distance between the two sets of switches should be
adequate to allow room for the usual throw of the point.
Double turnouts can be of similar
flexure, when the two turnouts take off on the same side of track (Fig. 15.6)
or of contrary flexure, when the two turnouts take off in two different
directions (Fig. 15.7).
Double turnouts are mostly used in congested areas,
particularly where traffic is heavy, so as to economize on space.
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