Turnout on grade
Work in progress: This section is still a work in progress — content is being added and revised continuously.
What is checked? Does a turnout or crossing sit inside a ramp (element grade above the limit)?
Why does it matter? Turnouts are the most mechanically sensitive pieces of track: moving point blades, frog gaps, often drives underneath. On a grade, longitudinal forces and height twist come on top — derailments and contact problems cluster exactly there. The old practitioner’s rule: turnouts belong on the level, the ramp starts behind them.
How to fix it: Move the turnout onto the flat approach and start the ramp after it; if need be start the ramp slightly later — usually costs only a few centimetres.
Numbers & defaults: turnout grade > 0.5 % is reported (editable).