Facing and trailing

Turnouts facing and trailing. NOTE: Left-hand traffic. For right-hand traffic, invert "F" and "T".

Facing and trailing are terms used to describe railway turnouts (or 'points' in the UK) in respect to whether they are divergent or convergent. When a train traverses a turnout in a facing direction, it may diverge onto either of the two routes. When travelled in a trailing direction, the two routes convergederail wagons as they bunch up.

So-called switch(ed) diamonds, which contain two stub turnouts in disguise, count as facing turnouts in both directions and are also known as moveable angles (UK).

Moveable crossings

Fixed V-crossings are trailable in both directions. Moveable crossings are effectively facing in both directions and must be correctly aligned.

Stub switches

Stub switches are effectively facing in both directions and must be correctly aligned.

Double junctions

Double junctions are now configurable in a number of different ways, whereby the number of facing and trailing turnouts vary.