I’m reading Trackside Details, that thin Kalmbach book. There’s a chapter on derails. I’m primarily referring to the derail that sets on the rail (not the one that is an open rail; that’s easy to figure out).
All of the photos in that book show the derail in the derail position. I don’t want it in the derail position. I want it in the OPEN position all the time so trains can leave and enter the spur. In other words, it will be there for decoration.
Can someone help me out with this?
I’ve got to leave in a few minutes to catch my VRE (1:1) train home so may not be able to view or reply to this until tomorrow.
I think there are two kinds
one is controlled by a lever and is just moved off the rail mechanically but stays rightside up so to speak.
The other is on a hinge and is turned over when not in service. The bottom is flat to sit on the railhead and that is what shows. Some are portable
Am I understanding your question?
Dave Nelson
I have seen a lot of portable derails on old industrial sidings, padlocked in the derail position, with a derail flag in front of it! I havent seen permanent derails before.
Here is a picture of it used to close a track where MOW equipment is stored. Its not a detailed photo , but it will give you an idea.
the two types I know of are one that is identical to a rerail frog that is locked in place to derail the car should it drift toward the mainline and one that is a one point switch. It basically spreads the rails to where the car falls between them.
Dave summed it up the best. The ones with the stand that he refered too often use switch stands to take them on and off the rail. They simply slide on and off the rail horizontally, or at least the ones of seen.
Ones the hinge on and off the rail usually end up sitting upside down in between the rail, clear of the flange and low enough to clear the underside of the train.
So, the latter one that you describe, Noah, is hinged so that it rotates at 90 deg from a passable rail-like head setting to one where the wheel will be derailed if it is rotated up and outward? For Dave’s edification, would it be locked into place, either way, so as to prevent tom-foolery or accident?
selector, No, it sits on the rail when locked in place and completely clears the rail when off. It doesn’t act like a rail, or at least not the ones I’ve seen and that I’m describing here. It doesn’t rotate, it hinges completely off the rail, 180 degrees ending in between the track. I hope I cleared this up, if not, ask a little more.
Okay, you guys have got my interest up. I thought I had lots of de-railers on my layout[:I], and was ashamed to admit it. Now I’ll just tell people that’s how the big boys do it![:D][;)] Really though, I never heard of a de-railer. I look forward to seeing a pic. CSXMU, I can’t view your picture. Maybe some letter is missing. This technology is wonderful, but it can make you [banghead][banghead] sometimes. 4884BIGBOY, I hope you post a pic soon! [8D][tup]
A split point derail (also called a switch point derail), which likely is the one with the switch stand, comes in two types–a single point and a double point. The single point derail is basically identical to the diverging side of a switch. The stock rail diverges for a short distance, and there is a movable point, tied to the switch stand. There is no frog, and the opposite side stock rail is on the tangent. They also have a short length of guard rail, to help guide the car on the diverging (dead-end) route and onto the ground. Here is a link to the UP industrial specs for this type:
In signal territory, any derails on a controlled track are equipped with electric switch locks, and in CTC locations are usually powered up. See 49CFR236 for rules about interaction with signal systems, locking requirements, etc.
Model engineering works made an HO derail with switch stand – the low type. These slide inwards and down to clear the rail.
I’ve also seen these linked to a switch. The one switch stand opens the switch and clears the derail. There’s a long curved siding on a slope near me that has this arrangement.
Referring to the derailer that sits on the rail. No switch stand, no point rail, just a small device that sits on the rail and deflects the train right or left, depending on where you want the runaway train to go.
Appreciate if anyone has any photos or diagrams of the derailer in the open position. I don’t want to tresspass on railroad property and have to wait for a switch engine to come and crew to open it.
Thanks very much. BTW, they are usually painted a bright yellow or orange.
SORRY I’m having so much trouble trying to explain what I’m talking about.
