TURNOUT

As integral part of a railway line, turnout is defined as a rail connection device that enables the locomotive to switch from or cross the other line. It varies by purpose and condition. It combines many parallel station tracks into various forms of stations or yards, so as to meet operating needs of railway transportation. It bears an immediate relation to efficiency and safety of railway transportation.  Typically it falls into three forms: line connection, line crossing, and integrated line connection and crossing. Line connection falls into simple turnout and compound turnout, which may present various types; line crossing falls into rectangular crossing and diamond crossing; integrated line connection and crossing falls into slip turnout and scissors crossing among others. By usage and planar shape, standard-typed turnouts that apply in China include: general simple turnout, symmetrical double curve turnout, three-way turnout, scissors crossing and slip turnout.