Jump to content
 

Facing Points - Private Sidings


Recommended Posts

Hi

 

Just building a new layout and need some advice if possible.

 

Layout is current day, main line freight.

 

I am planning an industrial works that will have a series of private sidings, can they be accessed  through Facing points or would they need to be via a Training point and the traffic having to set back  off the main line ?.

 

Thanks for any help.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Larger private facilities can be accessed by facing points, but would then have to have a locomotive run-round inside so the train can come out facing in the right direction, as well as a crossover on the main line (if double track) so trains can enter and leave on the correct lines.  However for a small siding it is easier to have a trailing connection so the loco can just drop and collect wagons without running round, and if there is no crossover it can leave in the same direction as it came in and run round somewhere down the line.  For mechanical signalling a trailing connection also avoids the complication of a facing point lock, although a trap point would be needed in either case. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

Facing points are avoided wherever possible as they are a risk if they split under a train at speed. You would only really get them if the line is a Single line, where it's unavoidable, or low speed anyway like a goods line.

Trailing points are best and as mentioned above save needing a run round in the siding for a small business.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

No, but it would have to be clipped during any period of single line working. Facing point locks are only required on points used by passenger trains in the facing direction.

Regards

Keith

And were also recommended for use on facing points on goods lines in certain situations  (they're rather useful in avoiding derailments arising from split points).

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks Guys, the knowledge available on the forum is amazing.

 

Trailing points it is.

 

New Question….. The main line trailing point will connect to a siding that the train will set back into (Network Rail owned), the train will then draw forward into a head shunt before reversing back into the private siding, do I need a set of catch points to protect the main line trailing point or would it be sufficient for the  headhunt point be interlocked with the ML trailing point.

Link to post
Share on other sites

  • RMweb Gold

If I read your description right the point into the head shunt and the one on the mainline would actually make a crossover so wouldn't need a catch point as they would both be worked together protecting the mainline unless reversed for a train.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Agreed.  The point leading off the first siding onto the main line would be worked together with the point leading off the main line (both on the same lever or always operated together by power signalling).  The other points within the sidings would probably be hand worked. 

 

Incidentally the thing you don't need is a trap point.  A catch point is to derail a train that is rolling the wrong way on a gradient. 

Link to post
Share on other sites

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

×
×
  • Create New...