Tag:railway=switch

railway = switch
Description
A railway switch, turnout or points: where trains can change from one track to another track.
Group: railways
Used on these elements
Useful combination
ref=*
See also
railway=derail railway=buffer_stop
Status: de facto
railway=switch $1% $1% $1% $1% More details at taginfo
Tools for this tag
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A railway switch (or railway turnout or railway point) is a point where trains can change from one track to another track. Add a node where the two tracks diverge and add railway=switch.

The most visible feature of a switch is the switch stand, which is located beside the rails and contains levers and linkages that control the switch. When determining the precise position of a switch, it is often quicker and easier to look for the switch stand than to eyeball the point where the rails meet.

• 
  normal right switch, showing switch stand
• 
  normal left switch, showing switch stand
• 
  three-way switch
• 
  double inside slip switch, showing switch stand
• 
  Abt switch
• 
  wye switch

Additional tags

• railway=switch – switch
• ref=* – switch number
• railway:switch=* – type of switch
  • railway:switch=default – normal switch, default (does not have to be tagged)
  • railway:switch=three_way – three-way switch
  • railway:switch=single_slip – slip switch, combines a switch and a railway crossing
  • railway:switch=double_slip – double switch
  • railway:switch=wye – wye switch
  • railway:switch=abt – Abt switch (funiculars only)
• railway:turnout_side=left/right - turnout direction (left/right)
• railway:switch:heated=yes/no – switch heating (to prevent freezing)
• railway:maxspeed:straight=* – speed limit in km/h if used in straight direction
• railway:maxspeed:diverging=* – speed limit in km/h if not used in straight direction
• railway:switch:electric=* – electric switch motor?
  • railway:switch:electric=yes – yes (default)
  • railway:switch:electric=no – no
• railway:local_operated=yes/no – Is the switch operated in field (yes) or by a person at the signal box (no)?
• railway:switch:movable_frog=* - movable frog
  • railway:switch:movable_frog=yes – movable frog
  • railway:switch:movable_frog=no – default value
• railway:switch:frog_number=* - is the ratio of its breadth to its length, i.e., the quotient of its breadth divided by its length.
• railway:switch:frog=lift – a type of flange bearing frog that is tread bearing on the main (through) movement and flange bearing on the minor (diverging) movement
• railway:switch:resetting=yes/no – resetting switch (only used on branch lines)

Tags used for single and double slips

You can use railway:switch:configuration=inside/outside to describe if the movable rails are inside or outside.

• 
  inside
• 
  outside

Rendering

Possible tagging mistakes

railway=junction

		$1%
		$1%
		$1%
		$1%

More details at taginfo

• railway=junction

If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!

switch=default

		$1%
		$1%
		$1%
		$1%

More details at taginfo

• switch=default

If you know places with this tag, verify if it could be tagged with another tag.
Automated edits are strongly discouraged unless you really know what you are doing!

Lifecycle

• disused:railway=switch - Switch unused
• razed:railway=switch - Switch removed

See also

• OpenRailwayMap/Tagging
• railway=railway_crossing – Crossing rails that do not interconnect / flat crossing (point where to tracks crosses but trains cannot switch from one track to another)
• railway=level_crossing - A crossing between a railway and a road
• railway=crossing - Pedestrians can cross a railway here
• highway=crossing - Pedestrians can cross a street here