The complete mechanical assembly that diverts a train from one track to another. It includes the switch points, the frog, the closure rails, and the operating mechanism. Engineering and track crews use this term rather than switch to describe the entire track structure as a single installed unit.
Heard on the job
We need to drop a 10 mph slow order on the turnout at the east end of the siding until the tamper gets here.
Do not mix it up with
- Switch points: Switch points are just the moving rails, while the turnout is the entire track assembly including the frog and closure rails.
Related terms
Frog
The crossing piece in a turnout or diamond where one rail passes through another and wheels cross the gap.
Switch points
The pair of movable, tapered rails in a turnout that steer wheels onto one route or the other.
Tangent
A section of railroad track that continues in a straight line without curves.