Derail

This article is about the device. As a verb, to "derail" means to suffer or cause a derailment.

Derail device installed at an industrial site, complete with Blue Flag protection

A derail or derailer is a device used to prevent fouling of a rail track by unauthorized movements of trains or unattended rolling stock ("fouling" is a rail term for anything being present on the track - a person, a train, a branch, etc.). It works (as the name suggests) by derailing the equipment as it rolls over or through the derail. In North American practice, the normal position of a derail is in the derailing position (i.e. applied or left on).

Overview

Although accidental derailment is damaging to equipment and track, and requires considerable time and expense to remedy, derails are used in situations where there is a risk of greater damage to equipment, injury or death if equipment is allowed to proceed past the derail point.

Applications

Derails may be applied:

• where sidings meet main lines or other through tracks
• at junctions or other crossings to protect the interlocking against unauthorized movement
• temporarily at an area where crews are working on a rail line
• approaching a drawbridge, dead end, or similar hazard.

Design

A derail device installed on a siding at Glen Haven, Wisconsin.

There are four basic forms of derail.

Wedge

The most common form is a wedge-shaped piece of steel which fits over the top of the rail. If a car or locomotive attempts to roll over it, the wheel flange is lifted over the rail to the outside, derailing it. When not in use, the derail folds away, leaving the rail unobstructed. It can be manually or remotely operated; in the former case it will have a lock applied to prevent it from being moved by unauthorized personnel. This type is common on North American railroads.

Derail on Nemuro Main Line, JR Hokkaido. It is set so that a train proceeding away from the camera will remain on the track.

Split rail

The second type of derail is the "split rail" type. These are basically a complete or partial railroad switch which directs the errant rolling stock away from the main line. This form is common throughout the UK, where it is called trap points or catch points.

A derail in Mannheim, Germany

Portable

The third type of derail is the portable derail, and is used by railroad mechanical forces, as well as some industries. This is often used in conjunction with Blue Flag rules and is temporary in nature.

Powered

Powered derailer, Temple Mills, Eurostar Maintenance Depot, UK

The fourth type of derailer is the powered or motorized derailer, electronically powered through an actuator. This type is of derailer can be controlled remotely from an external control panel or manually. It is commonly installed as a part of Depot Personnel Protection Systems, to ensure personnel safety in maintenance workshops and depots.

Failures

Derails have failed on occasion, such as the Newark Bay rail accident of 1958, or on April 1, 1987, at Burnham, Illinois, when an unsecured car in a siding defeated a derail and fouled the mainline. Due to rusty rails, the car then failed to shunt the track circuit that should have put block signals to "stop".

See also

• Buffer stop
• Catch points