Editing Railroad switch (section)

=== Dual gauge switches ===
[[File:DualgaugeHakonetozanJP14.jpg|thumb|A dual-gauge switch in Japan]]

''Dual gauge switches'' are used in [[dual gauge]] systems. There are various possible scenarios involving the routes that trains on each gauge may take, including the two gauges separating or one gauge being able to choose between diverging paths and the other not. Because of the extra track involved, dual gauge switches have more points and frogs than their single gauge counterparts. This limits speeds even more than usual.

A related formation is the 'swish' or rail exchange, where (usually) the common rail changes sides. These have no moving parts, the narrower gauge wheels being guided by [[Guard rails (railroad)|guard rails]] as they transition from one rail to another. The wider gauge only encounters continuous rail so is unaffected by the exchange. At dual gauge turntables, a similar arrangement is used to move the narrow-gauge track from one side to a central position.

{{Clear}}