LAY OUT

CALCULATIONS
TYPICAL YARD
 Why Layout Calculations?
• To fix correct position of T/out wrt existing track in
case of yard remodeling

• To avoid kinks & sharp curvatures

• To design new layouts in case of new construction

• To ensure safety

• For space economization

 When needed ?
• Open Line engineers
 To rectify defective layouts
 For yard remodeling works

• Construction Engineers
 For Gauge conversion works
 For doubling works
 For yard remodeling works
TURNOUT
 TURNOUT

TNC

INTERSECTION
POINT
 Provisions of IRPWM
• Para 410(2)
 Turn outs in passenger running lines over which
passenger trains are received & dispatched
should be laid with crossing, not sharper than 1
in 12 for straight switch.

 In exceptional circumstances, 1 in 8 1/2 curved

switch may be laid; due to space constraint.

 Sharper crossings may also be used when T/O

is taking off from outside of a curve keeping
radius of lead curve within 350m (BG) (D=5)
 Provisions of IRPWM
• Turn in curve may be allowed up to 220m (BG)
(D=8) subject to

- Turn in curve on PSC or ST sleepers only, with

sleeper spacing same as for main line.

- Full ballast profile as for main line track.

• Emergency X - overs between double or multiple

lines which are laid only in the trailing direction
may be laid with 1 in 8.5 crossings.
 Provisions of IRPWM
In case of
- 1 in 8.5 T/Os with straight switches on passenger
lines, speed restricted to 10 Kmph

- 1 in 8.5 T/Os with straight swithes on non-

passenger lines, speed restricted to 15 Kmph

• Para 410(3)
Permissible speed for T/Os taking off from inside
of the curve shall be decided by taking resultant
radius of lead curve
1 in 8.5 T/Os not to be laid on inside of curves
 TYPES OF LAYOUT

-T/Os taking off from straight track

-T/Os taking off from curved tracks

• DS is the degree of T/O curve (lead curve)
taking off from straight
• DM is the degree of main line curve
• DR is the resultant degree of T/O curve
(lead curve) when taking off from curved
main line
 Resultant Lead Radius in
Similar Flexure Turnouts
Main line with
Radius RM and
Degree DM
Turnout Laid on Straight

Lead curve with

Radius RS & Degree DS

Lead curve with resultant Radius Rt

For similar flexure, & resultant Degree Dt

Dt= DM + DS
1750/ Rt = 1750/ RM + 1750/ RS
1/ Rt = 1/ RM + 1/ RS 12
 Resultant Lead Radius in
Contrary Flexure Turnouts
Main line with Radius RM
and Degree DM
Turnout Laid on Straight

Lead curve with

Radius RS & Degree DS
Lead curve with resultant
Radius RR & resultant Degree DR
For contrary flexure,
DR = DM - DS
1750/ RR = 1750/ RM - 1750/ RS
1/ RR = 1/ RM - 1/ RS
 Resultant Lead Radius in
Symmetrical split
Lead curve with resultant
Radius / Rt & resultant
Degree Dt

Dt = D M
1/ Rt = 1/ RM
Main line with Radius RM
and Degree DM
 Representation of Turnout on Centre line.
BB
B
K HOC
SRJ

A = SRJ to P distance, is dependent upon angle of crossing ‘F’ and not on

type of switches, i.e. straight or curved or else whole yard will have to be
redesigned in case of adopting new design of a switch.
M = Distance from P to TNC. Calculated as M  G Cot F
2 2
M is fixed for a particular gauge ‘G’ & angle of crossing ‘F’
 Representation of Turnout on Centre line.
BB
SRJ B

K
K = Length of back leg of crossing i.e. Distance from TNC to HOC.
K is dependent upon type of crossing i.e. BU or CMS crossing. For a
particular type of crossing chosen for a yard, value of ‘K’ will be fixed.
‘K’ is large for Built-up and less for CMS xing.
Therefore B = M + K is also fixed.
‘F’= (Angle of crossing) is same for straight or curved switch.

Overall length = A + B
 A TURNOUT
 A,M and K are known as turnout parameters
 For a particular gauge and angle of crossing , M
is fixed
 K is the length of back leg of Xing and will
depend on type of Xing, built up or CMS
 A is also dependent on angle of xing and not on
type of switch
 Therefore for a given gauge, crossing angle and
crossing type (BU or CMS), value of these
turnout parameters i.e. ‘A’, ‘M’ & ‘K’ are fixed.
i.e. The T/O are fixed.
BROAD GAUGE (1673 MM) ON PSC SLEEPERS

CROSSING SECTION TYPE ANGLE OF RADIUS (R)

NO. CROSSING (F)
1 IN 8 ½ 60 kg C, FH 6° 42’ 35’’ 232260
1 IN 8 ½ 52 kg C, FH 6° 42’ 35’’ 232260
1 in 12 60 kg C, FH 4° 45’ 49’’ 441360
1 IN 12 52 kg C, FH 4° 45’ 49’’ 441360
1 IN 16 60 kg C, FH 3° 34’ 35’’ 784993
1 IN 20 60 kg C, FH 2° 51’ 45’’ 1283100
 TYPE OF CONNECTIONS

• Connection to non parallel tracks

(divergent)

• Connection to parallel tracks

 Connection to Divergent Track
A CK
T TR
G EN
R -
DI VE

B
SJ = F
A F
P B

Three different situations, as discussed below may emerge –

i) When  = F
This is the simplest problem. The point P
can be located as the intersection point. After measuring
A from point P, SJ can be located and the layout can be
done.
 ii) When  > F TT
RAC
K

N
GE
Angle θ by field surveying VE
R
DI
TP
T
T

Y
B
SJ F
A
P B
X

• In this case the Radius R has to be assumed. Normally

the same curvature of turnout curve is adopted for the
connecting curve also.
• T = R tan( -F)/2,
• X = (B+T) CosF + T Cos
• Y = (B+T) SinF + T Sin
• TP is located first by drawing line parallel to the
existing track at distance Y and then the locations of P
and SRJ are marked
 iii) When  < F NT
TRAC
K

GE
ER
DIV
Angle θ by field surveying
T
TP

T
Y

B
F

l SJ A P B
X

• Radius R has to be assumed. Normally the same

curvature of turnout curve is adopted for the connecting
curve also.
• T = R tan (F-)/2
• X = (B+T) CosF + T Cos
• Y = (B+T) SinF + T Sin
• Location of the points TP, P and SRJ can be marked
similar to the earlier case.
 Connections To Straight Parallel
Tracks
• Type of Layout connections between
straight parallel tracks depends upon the
distance between them & space availability
in the Yard.

• Accordingly distance between the two

tracks may be treated as NORMAL or
LARGE distance.
 Connections To Straight Parallel
Tracks

1. With normal distance between tracks

2. With large distance between tracks

(I) with no straight between reverse curves
(II) with a straight between reverse curves
 Connections To Straight Parallel
Tracks
With normal distance between them
T = R tan F/2 (R is Value of S and R are inter-related
assumed) Connecting curve
X = D Cot F+T
D
S  (B  T )
SinF
• To get flattest possible
turn-in-curve, S
should be reckoned OL=X+A
as 0 and T as well as
R can be calculated
accordingly..
Connections To Straight Parallel Tracks
With large distance between them with no straight
it is desirable to introduce a connecting(Case I)
reverse curve behind the heel of
crossing so as to keep the overall
length to the minimum.
Assume R of the connecting curves

RCosF  BSinF  ( R  D)
Cos 
2R
T = R Tan(-F)/2
T1 = R Tan /2
X1 = (B+T) CosF + T Cos
X2 = T1 Cos + T1
Y1 = (B+T) SinF + T Sin
X = X1 + X2

X2
X can also be calculated as
( B  T ) Sin (  F )
X  DCot  T1
Sin
Connections To Straight Parallel Tracks
With large distance between them with straight
 = Tan-1 (S/2R)
(Case II)
From O1LZ, {RCosF  BSinF  ( R  D)}Sin
  Cos 1

Cos (+) = (O1L+LM-MN)/O1O2 S
This works out to

T = R Tan(-F)/2 ,
T1 = R Tan(/2)
X1 = (B+T) CosF + T Cos
Y1 = (B+T) SinF + T Sin
X = X1 + ( S + T1) Cos + T1
 Connections To Straight Parallel
Tracks
With large distance between them with straight
(Case II)
CROSSOVER
 Crossover Between Straight Parallel Track
With normal spacing between the tracks and
with the same angle of crossing.
X = D CotF
OL = X + 2A
2B + S = D/SinF .
Hence,
D
S  2B
SinF
 Crossover Between Straight Parallel Track
With large spacing between tracks and same angle of crossing
and no straight
RCosF  BSinF  D / 2
  Cos1
T = RTan ( -F)/2 R
X1 = (B+T) cos F + T Cos
Y1 = (B+T) SinF + T Sin
X = 2X1
OL = X + 2A
 Crossover Between Straight Parallel Track
With large spacing between tracks and same angle
of crossing and no straight
- ‘R’ is assumed same as that lead curve radius of
T/out.
- D’ is known from actual field measurement.
- Type of T/out is decided. Accordingly value of
T/out parameters A,B will be known.
- Ө, T, X1, Y1 is calculated from expressions.
- One of the point P1 or P2 is to be fixed on field
considering obligatory points if any.
- other points can be fixed w.r.t. P1 or P2.
 Crossover Between Straight Parallel Track
With large spacing between tracks and same angle of
1 S
crossing and with a straight
  Tan
2R
 {2( RCosF  BSinF )  D}Sin  
  Cos 1  
 S 
T = R Tan(-F)/2
X1 = (B+T) CosF + T Cos
Y1 = (B+T) SinF + T Sin
X = 2(B+T)CosF+
(2T+S)Cos
OL=X+2A
 Crossover Between Straight Parallel Track
With large spacing between tracks and same angle
of crossing and with a straight
 Crossover Between Straight Parallel Track
With different angles of crossings
D = (B1 + T) SinF1 + (B2 + T) SinF2
Hence, D  ( B SinF  B SinF )
T 1 1 2 2
SinF1  SinF2
R = T/tan{(F1-F2)/2}
X1 = (B1+T)CosF1
X2 = (B2+T) CosF2

OL = X1 + X2 + A1 + A2
 One turnout being Symmetrical Split.
T = R Tan{(F1- F2/2)/2}
X1 = (B2 +T) CosF2/2
Y1 = (B2 + T) SinF2/2
D  Y1
SinF1 
T  S  B1
Y1

D  Y1
S  ( B1  T )
SinF1

X=X1+X2

X2 = (D-Y1) CotF1
OL = X+A1+A2 X1 X2
Cross-over between non parallel straight tracks

min

T= RTan {(Δ+F1-F2)/2}
Dmin = (B1 +T) SinF1 + (B2 +T) Sin(F2 - Δ) – A2 SinΔ
X = (B1 +T) Cos F1 + (B2 +T) Cos(F2 - Δ)
OL = X + A1 + A2 CosΔ
 Cross-over between non parallel
straight tracks
(I) Given - R, Δ, T/o parameters
Find – T - (from eq.1)
Dmin (Location of SJ2) - (from eq. 2),
X - (from eq.3),
OL - (from eq.4)
(II) Given – D, Δ, T/o parameters
Find – T - (from eq. 2),
R - (from eq.1)
X - (from eq.3),
OL - (from eq.4)
 CONNECTION BETWEEN CURVED TRACK TO
PARALLEL CURVED TRACK OR DIVERGENT
STRAIGHT TRACK

o Connection between two curved parallel tracks

- connection on outside of main line curve
without straight
- connection on outside of main line curve
with a straight
- connection on inside of main line curve
o Connection between a curved track to straight
track
- connection on inside of main line curve
- connection on outside of main line
 Connections from a curved main line to a parallel curved siding on
the outside with the connection having no straight between
the crossing leg of the turnout and the connecting curve.
NH and NC are the back legs of crossing
which are straight and O1 H = Rm and
O2C =(Rc-G) L1
AH = AC = K tanF/2 E
CE is the long chord of the connecting LO
B OP
curve and AB is drawn parallel to CE
In  O2AB; O2AB = O2BA F
N
In  O1AB; O1AB - O1BA = F X L
Solving  O1AB and

D
MA
applying the equation Rc IN
LI N
E
C
K K tan
F/2
N A
O2 K K tan
F/2
A B a b C H
Tan  Cot
2 ab 2 Rm F
Rm
O1B = O1L + LE - BE Rc
= Rm + D –G – K TanF/2
O1A = O1H + HA = Rm + K TanF/2
Hence, (a-b) = D –G – 2K TanF/2
and, (a+b) = 2Rm + D –G
Interchanging A,B,C,a,b &c
we get
O1
  a b A B
Tan  Cot
2 ab 2
D  G  2kTanF / 2
or ,   2Tan 1
CotF / 2
2 Rm  D  G
In triangle O1AO2 using formula SinA/a =SinB/b, we get

( Rm  K tan F / 2) sin 
Rc   G  K tan F / 2
sin(   F )

X = NL = NH + HL = (Rxx/180) + K
• Crossing is fixed first in case of connection to
curved tracks.
• Distance ‘D’ between two curved parallel tracks &
Radius of main line ‘Rm’ are known from field
surveying.
• Value of turnout parameters will be known once
t/out is decided.
• Angle ǿ & Radius of connecting curve ‘Rc’ are
calculated.
• Finally ‘X’ is calculated & ‘L’ & ‘L1’are fixed wrt
TNC.
 Connections from a curved main line to a parallel curved siding on the
inside with the connection having no straight between the crossing leg of
the turnout and the connecting curve.
AH = AC = BE = K tanF/2
Rm
In  O2AB; O2AB = O2BA

D
X

( As O2A = O2B) B

In  O1AB; O1AB - O1BA = F H

A
E
K Rc
( As O2AB = O2BA) C A
K K
Solving  O1AB and N
F
C
K
using the equation, N
Rm
B A ba C
Tan  cot
2 ba 2
We have, a = O1B = Rm – D+ K tanF/2
And b = O1A = Rm – G - K TanF/2 Rc
(b-a) = D –G – 2K TanF/2 O1
and, (b+a) = 2Rm - D –G
We get

D  G  2 K tan F / 2
  2 tan 1
-F
cot F / 2
2 Rm  D  G
O2
 Solving  O1O2A and using equation
a b c
 
sin A sin B sin C
We have, O2A = Rc + K tan(F/2) & O1A = Rm – G - K TanF/2, we get

Rc  KTanF / 2 ( Rm  G  K tan F / 2) sin 


sin  sin(   F )

( Rm  G  K tan F / 2) sin 
Rc   K tan F / 2
sin(   F )

X = NL = NH + HL = (Rm-G)xx/180) + K

Sin(-F) can have a positive, zero or a negative value as value of  depends

upon Rm and D other factors being constant. When (-F) has a positive value,
Rc is positive and the Rc and Rm are in similar flexures. When (-F) is zero, Rc
is infinite i.e., the two are connected by straight line and when (-F) has a
negative value, Rc is in reverse flexures to the main line curve.
 Cross-over between curved parallel tracks
• In O1O2A, O1A = Rm + K Tan F/2
• O2A = Rc –G - K Tan F/2
• (O1O2)2 = (O1A)2 + (O2A)2 - 2 O1A xO2A Cos F
• = (Rm+KTanF/2) 2+ (Rc-G-KtanF/2) 2 -2(Rm+KTanF/2)
(Rc-G-KtanF/2)CosF ………..(1)
• In O1O2B, O1B = Rc + K Tan F/2
• O2B = Rm –D-G - K Tan F/2
• (O1O2) 2 = O1B2 + O2B2 - 2 O1Bx O2B Cos F
• = (Rc+KTanF/2) 2 +(Rm-D-G-KtanF/2) 2 -
2(Rc+KTanF/2) (Rm-D-G-KtanF/2)CosF ………..(2)
•
Equating equations (1) & (2), We can have,

[{2 Rm  D  G}{D  G  2 KTan( F / 2)}  G{G  2 KTan( F / 2)}  2CosF (2 Rm  D){KTan( F / 2)  Rm G}]
Rc 
2[ DCosF  {G  2 KTan( F / 2)}(1  CosF )]
In O1O2B, O1B = Rc + K Tan F/2 O2B = Rm –D-G - K Tan F/2
(O1O2)2 = OB12 + OB22 - 2 O1Bx O2B Cos O1BO2

BO2O1 S B ( S B  O2 B)
Cos( )
2 O1B  O1O2

Where, SB = (O1B + O2B + O1O2)/2

BO2O1 = 180o – (BO1O2 + F) .(3)
In O1O2A, O1A = Rm + K Tan F/2
O2A = Rc –G - K Tan F/2
(O1O2)2 = OA12 + OA22 - 2 O1A xO2A Cos O1AO2
 Where, SA = (O1A + O2A + O1O2)/2
AO1O2 = 180o – (AO2O1 + F) …(4)
From equations (3) and (4),
 = BO2O1 - AO1O2 &  =BO2O1 -AO1O2
R 
S c

180 / 
R  KD
X  m
 2K 
180 /  R m
GATHERING
LINES
OR
LADDER
 Gathering line laid at angle of crossing
This is the simplest and most commonly
adopted layout for a gathering line
specially in a passenger yard.
In this layout, distance P0 – P1, P1 – P2, P3
P2 – P3 are equal and this distance LL
‘LL’ is greater than the overall
length of turnout. The best method
to lay a gathering line is by co- D

ordinates of the deflection points P2 Y

3
with reference to the 1st deflection LL
point Po as origin.
D
Y
P1 2
D LL
LL 
SinF
Y D

& X  DCotF
1

SJ
A
F
P
0

X X X
 Ladder at Limiting angle
Required only when space available is
limited. Here the turnouts are laid
butting against each other except
between the first two turnouts
where a curve is introduced to
deflect the gathering line to the D
limiting angle ‘Q’. P
3
Limiting angle, A
D
Q min  Sin 1
B
P Y3
A  B  Exp.Gap 2 D

QF
A

T  RTan P
B
2 1
A Y2
D 2D
Dmin = (B+T){SinF + Sin (Q-F)} + (T+A) Y1 Dmin

S
SinQ
Ordinates of P1:
X1 = (B+T) CosF +(T+A) CosQ T D
T
Y1 = (B+T) SinF +(T+A) SinQ B
Ordinates of P2: F Q
P
X2 = X1 + D CotQ & Y2= Y1 + D 0

Ordinates of P3: X
1
X3 = X2 + D CotQ & Y3= Y2 + D X2

X3
T/Os taking off from curved tracks

Dt=Ds+Dm

Similar flexure
T/Os taking off from curved tracks

Dt=Ds-Dm

Contrary Flexure
T/Os taking off from curved tracks

Dt = Dm

Symmetrical split