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Derails

Derails are safety devices designed to limit the movement of a car or locomotive beyond a fixed pint. They operate with the use of a "shoe" that sites on top of the rail and causes any wheels passing over it to derail. When travel into the restricted area is necessary, the shoe is removed. Derails are frequently used to protect areas where people are working, loading docks, or to prevent cars from rolling out of an industrial track onto the railway mainline.

The two derails described below are of welded steel construction and are the heaviest models available. Somewhat lighter models are also available, as well as portable derails, and derails equipped with blue warning flags. Most all derails can be padlocked in position to protect against vandalism.

Model EB Hinged Derail is a very common and economical derail. It has a steel base which is spiked to the ties. The shoe is on a hinge connected to the base. This derail is designed for HAND THROW ONLY. The shoe is clopped over on its back in the center of the track when in the inactive position. A target stand may be used to indicate the position of the shoe.

Model HB Sliding Derail is a heavy-duty derail designed for durability and to minimize stress on wheels and derail. It is operated from the side of the track with a stand that slides the shoe from the base to the upper (active) position. This model can be used with a standard two-tie operating stand, but other types of standards are available. The stands come with a connecting rod, and must be ordered separately.

Derails are designed to derail to the right or to the left. A right-hand or left-hand derail must be specified when ordering. Looking in the direction of movement of a car to be derailed, a right-hand derail goes on the right-hand rail and derails towards the right. A left-hand derail goes on the left-hand rail and derails to the left.

"Double End" derails are available and may be used as right or left hand, but they generally have a sharper derailing angle and should be avoided if a lift or right hand will do the job.

EB and HB derails come in five sizes (No. 4 through No. 8). The correct derail size is determined by the vertical distance in even inches from the top of the rail to the tie. (If tie plates are used, add the thickness of the plate under the rail to the height of the rail to determine the correct derail size. Crop the tie plate at the rail base so the derail is not partially mounted on the tie plate; the derail must sit level.)

Adjustments to make the vertical distance correspond in even inches to the derail size should be made by adzing the tie under the derail or shimming up the derail with a steel shim. A derail may be used on rail 1/2" lower to 1/2" higher than the rail to which its size number refers, but the distance from the top of the rail to the surface on which the derail is secured must be even inches and must correspond to the size number of the derail.

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