Railroads crosses, how do they work?

[couch_potato]

Might seem like a simple question but when I thought about it, I think how the wheels of the train stay on track needs to be elaborated. Sure, if the train travels only in one track, it has a steep extrusion at the middle of the wheel which allow it to stay in track, but... If it crosses another railway, how can we make sure it stays in track?

 

Go here if you don't know what I mean:

https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2513/3874671000_349f1f4b18_z.jpg?zz=1

http://static.panoramio.com/photos/large/58668679.jpg

Edited May 16, 2017 by couch_potato

[Strange]

You can see the slots in the other track where they cross for the "extrusion" (flange?) to go through.

[Bender]

And since the flanges are longer than they are wide, there is no risk of the wheel slipping sideways in the small slot.

[couch_potato]

Thanks. Very cool. I don't think they can latch on to the tracks if in supposed scenario the train is upside down... or will it?

[Bender]

When trains are upside down, there are bigger problems.

[studiot]

The mechanism to direct trains along the correct track is called 'points'

 

Here is Wiki and some you tube etc

 

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=how+do+railway+points+work&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-b-ab&gfe_rd=cr&ei=ZrkcWb6JLc2stgfNzYXAAw

Edited May 17, 2017 by studiot