Re: Heel Block vs Head Block

Posted by Chris Walker on May 14, 2015; 10:43pm
URL: http://c-sng-discussion-forum.254.s1.nabble.com/ICC-map-abbreviations-tp2242p2263.html

Just in case you thought that I was losing it I thought I'd better post this excerpt from the NZRailways General Code Of Railway Practice.

"Head block (points). A pair of sleepers used to support the switch-point operating mechanism and the Points Lever, or support the electric Points Motor in remotely controlled installations."
"Head rod. The throw rod nearest the point of a switch, usually placed between the two head block sleepers."
"Heel block (points). A block which spans joints and fills the space between adjacent rails at the heel of a switch, joined with outside splice bars by continuous bolts to form a unit joint.
"Heel length. Distance between the heel end and half-inch point of a frog, measured along gauge line."
"Heel of frog. The end of a frog farthest from the switch."
"Heel of switch. The end of a point blade farthest from the point of switch."
"Heel spread (frog). Distance between gauge line at the heel end of a frog."
"Heel spread (points). The distance between the gauge line at the heel of the point blades."

Heel Blocks are at the heel of the point blades between the running and diverging rails.  This location would be the Headblock on a Stub switch.  Problem is definitions in the wording between our two countries and the obsolescence of the stub down here.
Just a bit difficult to overcome 38 years of Rule Book terminology. :)