A track arrangement consisting of three switches and three connecting legs that form a triangle. It allows a locomotive or an entire train to reverse direction by pulling into one leg and backing down another. In North American railroading, this formation is almost universally referred to as a wye.
Heard on the job
We need to take the power down to the triangle at the junction to turn it before the return trip.
Also heard as
- wye
Do not mix it up with
- Wye: Wye is the standard North American term for this exact track formation, while triangle is more common in British and Commonwealth railroading.
Related terms
Wye
To turn a locomotive or an entire train around by navigating a triangular junction of track.
Turntable
A rotating track section mounted in a circular pit used to reverse the direction of locomotives.
Reverse
The position of a track switch when it is lined for the diverging route rather than the straight main line.