| Backshunt | |
|---|---|
 An example of a backshunt from an industrial siding on to a mainline |
A backshunt is a railway track configuration in situations where a change in (almost opposite) direction is required and a traditional curve cannot fit.[1]
There are two main applications of a backshunt.
- To climb or drop a steep incline using a zig zag[2]
- To change direction on to a parallel track, often used in industrial sidings.[3]
- ^ Graham Hutchins (2011). Last Train to Paradise: Journeys from the Golden Age of New Zealand Railways. Exisle Publishing. p. 72. ISBN 9781927147290.
- ^ Crespi, A.J. (1900). "The Birmingham New Water Works". The New Century Review. 8 (47): 358–366.
- ^ R. D. Singh (2005). Principles and Practices of Modern Coal Mining. New Age Publishing. p. 647. ISBN 9788122409741.