Switch vs. Turnout
Minnesota Heartland Railroad
FAQ's - Switch vs Turnout
Question: Is there any difference between
Switch and Turnout?
Answer: Per the December 1978 RMC, in railroad
engineering, the switch is the moving portion of a turnout. The track
crew installs a turnout. The operating crew throws the switch to
change the train's route. You don't "throw the turnout" because the
whole turnout does not move, only the switch portion of the turnout moves.
Some modelers like to use the term "turnout" in place of "switch", and
use "switch" to refer to electrical switches in their layouts.
