Re: What's this harp stand being used for?

Posted by Jeff Young on
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/What-s-this-harp-stand-being-used-for-tp2224p2241.html

I understand that there’s only a need for a derail on the downgrade end of a siding.  I was trying to ask the orientation of a derail, but I think those deflecting rails answer the question: the roll-away cars always approach the derail from the moving rail direction.  (In other words, they never roll off the end of the fixed rail into the gap left when the moving rail opens.)

That Buffalo target is an excellent counter-example to any suggested pattern regarding derails vs. turnouts.  So we can’t make any assumptions about what type of target was on other derails.  

What about where they were found?  Can we assume a siding on a grade, or an upgrade spur would always have a derail?  Or is there no consistent pattern here either?

(On that note I went to look at my ICC maps, and lo and behold, there’s a little angle marked on the Silica branch with “D.R. & sign”.  Further up the line the Bolton Quarry spur has no derail.  But it’s possible that one’s flat.  I’ll have to do some more research with the maps….)

Thanks,
Jeff.