A bit OT, but hopefully this will interest some of you:

On a recent trip to Japan I noticed that at certain locations the
pointwork is very different to anything that I've seen elsewhere.
Regrettably I didn't take any photos myself, but I've found a picture
with several examples of this type of points on the web:

http://www.sushicam.com/Journal%20entries/021209/PC080013.jpg

Unlike conventional points there are no frogs, blades or check rails
etc. Indeed the normal non-diverging route is virtually plain track.

For the diverging route, both running rails at the facing end lie to
the direction of the diverging route. Although it is not clear in the
photos, these rails are much 'squarer' than normal track, and possibly
are not solid but are just a 'lid' that slides on top of the
normal-route running rails.

In the position where there would normally be a frog, the rail on the
diverging-route bends away, leaving gaps either side of the
normal-route running rail. Opposite this, on what would usually be the
diverging-route stock rail, there is a short but steep hump that seems
to lock the wheel in via the flange. Presumably diverging route trains
run on their flanges over the turnout.

These points are a lot less common than conventional points, but are by
no means rare. Several examples can be seen on the busy Yamanote line.
They seem to be located where the diverging route is lightly used, and
presumably result in reduced track stresses and improved ride comfort
for trains running on the normal-route.

Does anyone know exactly how these points work? Can they be negotiated
by all trains, or are they provided only for lighter rolling stock such
as track maintenance vehicles? What stresses would the flange running
place on rolling stock taking the diverging-route?

I'm hoping that someone from uk.railway knows the answers!

Rob.

Rob Ferguson wrote:


> http://www.sushicam.com/Journal%20entries/021209/PC080013.jpg

> Does anyone know exactly how these points work? Can they be negotiated
> by all trains, or are they provided only for lighter rolling stock such
> as track maintenance vehicles? What stresses would the flange running
> place on rolling stock taking the diverging-route?


This type is only ever used to connect sidings for track maintenance 
vehicles to main lines. As far as I know, "bridges" are fitted to literally 
heave vehicles over the running rail. I would love to see these points used 
in practice, but unfortunately you would probably only get a chance to do so 
late at night after the network has shut down.


-- 
Dave Fossett
Saitama, Japan
http://jtrains.fotopic.net/

On 25 Jul 2005 13:15:57 -0700, "Rob Ferguson"
 wrote:


>A bit OT, but hopefully this will interest some of you:
>
>On a recent trip to Japan I noticed that at certain locations the
>pointwork is very different to anything that I've seen elsewhere.
>Regrettably I didn't take any photos myself, but I've found a picture
>with several examples of this type of points on the web:
>
>http://www.sushicam.com/Journal%20entries/021209/PC080013.jpg
>
>Unlike conventional points there are no frogs, blades or check rails
>etc. Indeed the normal non-diverging route is virtually plain track.

>Rob.

there were some East Broad Top phots posted in abpr a while back that
had similar points in places. Instead of blades, the whole alignment
of the the two rails changed so the rail ends butted together.

> Instead of blades, the whole alignment
> of the the two rails changed so the rail ends butted together.


I kinda seem to remember seeing something very much akin to these for
very high speed turnouts. (Not the moving frog variety). The idea was
to provide a continuous running rail.

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 08:41:33 +0900, "Dave Fossett"
<reply@via.newsgroup> wrote:


>Rob Ferguson wrote:
>
>> http://www.sushicam.com/Journal%20entries/021209/PC080013.jpg
>
>> Does anyone know exactly how these points work? Can they be negotiated
>> by all trains, or are they provided only for lighter rolling stock such
>> as track maintenance vehicles? What stresses would the flange running
>> place on rolling stock taking the diverging-route?
>
>This type is only ever used to connect sidings for track maintenance 
>vehicles to main lines. As far as I know, "bridges" are fitted to literally 
>heave vehicles over the running rail. I would love to see these points used 
>in practice, but unfortunately you would probably only get a chance to do so 
>late at night after the network has shut down.


Would that be one of your "bridges" (or the fixed bit to match it)
astride the furthest rail on the LHS of the diverging route ?

"1501"  wrote in message
news:1122394031.339204.9910@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...


> Instead of blades, the whole alignment
> of the the two rails changed so the rail ends butted together.


Are you referring to a "Stub Switch"?  Used, in North America at least, on
narrow gauge railways?

<http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/tkwk522.Html>


<http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/east-broad-top/3750002.jpg>

This is the photo of what appears to once have been a dual gauge "stub
switch" that is now only used for the narrow gauge, the standard gauge "stub
switches" having seemingly been removed.



--
Cheers
Roger T.

Home of the Great Eastern Railway
http://www.highspeedplus.com/~rogertra/

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:10:33 -0700, "Roger T."
 wrote:


>
>"1501"  wrote in message
>news:1122394031.339204.9910@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>> Instead of blades, the whole alignment
>> of the the two rails changed so the rail ends butted together.
>
>Are you referring to a "Stub Switch"?  Used, in North America at least, on
>narrow gauge railways?
>
><http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/tkwk522.Html>
>
>
><http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/east-broad-top/3750002.jpg>
>
>This is the photo of what appears to once have been a dual gauge "stub
>switch" that is now only used for the narrow gauge, the standard gauge "stub
>switches" having seemingly been removed.


yep I think that is what was in the EBT phots - nice to put a name to
it - I hadn't really thought much about having seen it in the pics but
seeing the OP referenced phot put me in mind of it.

Thanks

On Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:10:33 -0700, "Roger T."
 wrote:


>
>"1501"  wrote in message
>news:1122394031.339204.9910@g47g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>
>> Instead of blades, the whole alignment
>> of the the two rails changed so the rail ends butted together.
>
>Are you referring to a "Stub Switch"?  Used, in North America at least, on
>narrow gauge railways?
>
><http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/tkwk522.Html>
>
>
><http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/east-broad-top/3750002.jpg>
>
>This is the photo of what appears to once have been a dual gauge "stub
>switch" that is now only used for the narrow gauge, the standard gauge "stub
>switches" having seemingly been removed.


have a look at the points in the foreground here:

http://www.spikesys.com/Bin/EBT/09205.jpg

>>Are you referring to a "Stub Switch"?  Used, in North America at least, on
>>narrow gauge railways?
>>
>><http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/tkwk522.Html>
>>
>>
>><http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/east-broad-top/3750002.jpg>
>>
>>This is the photo of what appears to once have been a dual gauge "stub
>>switch" that is now only used for the narrow gauge, the standard gauge
>>"stub
>>switches" having seemingly been removed.
>
> yep I think that is what was in the EBT phots - nice to put a name to
> it - I hadn't really thought much about having seen it in the pics but
> seeing the OP referenced phot put me in mind of it.


These stub switches were used on passenger carrying lines.

Go figure.  I can just imagine HM Inspector of Railways approving that.


--
Cheers
Roger T.

Home of the Great Eastern Railway
http://www.highspeedplus.com/~rogertra/

>><http://thejoekorner.quuxuum.org/east-broad-top/3750002.jpg>
>>
>>This is the photo of what appears to once have been a dual gauge "stub
>>switch" that is now only used for the narrow gauge, the standard gauge
>>"stub
>>switches" having seemingly been removed.
>
> have a look at the points in the foreground here:
>
> http://www.spikesys.com/Bin/EBT/09205.jpg


Another stub switch.  The EBT is full of them.  So were the narrow gauge
lines of the D&RGW et al.


--
Cheers
Roger T.

Home of the Great Eastern Railway
http://www.highspeedplus.com/~rogertra/

Thanks for the info. I was having some difficulty imagining an 11-car
Yamanote line train bumping over these!

Regards,

Rob.