Tag:railway=switch
 railway = switch
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| Description |
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A railway switch, turnout or points: where trains can change from one track to another track. 
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| Group: railways |
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| Status: de facto |
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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=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.
Rendering
Possible tagging mistakes
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