Ross has a couple double crossover switches. Do real railroads use double crossover switches in the real world? Just curious. Thank you!
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Check out some of the track arrangement here: Complex yards
Very common on transit systems.
Real railroads would rarely use a double crossover. The center frog in that arrangement is a very high maintenance item. If a railroad needs crossovers in both directions, they would use two single crossovers. The length required for this is not a concern on a real railroad.
The double cross is more of a space-saving measure for model railroads.
@Rich Melvin posted:Real railroads would rarely use a double crossover. The center frog in that arrangement is a very high maintenance item. If a railroad needs crossovers in both directions, they would use two single crossovers. The length required for this is not a concern on a real railroad.
In addition, the even more modern way of railroading tends to require much higher speed turnouts/cross-overs (50 MPH to 65 MPH for example) which also require a movable-point frog. Thus, there is no way a multiple frog crossing (diamond) would be used for such higher speed cross-overs.
The double cross is more of a space-saving measure for model railroads.
Thanks all. I have the space so I will use two single crossovers to keep it as prototypical as possible.
Two single crossovers in the model railroad have the bonus functionality of crossing over and right back. This could be a poor man's spot to park a freight car and/or have an engine run to the other end of a car to back it into a siding.
