Railway Points, Railway Points Operating Apparatus and Railway Track Crossing

A points arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the mating profile comprises a convex profile section and a complementary concave profile section.

A points arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the mating profile comprises a plurality of cooperating mating surfaces.

A points arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein the mating profile is a generally V-section profile.

A points arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein an expansion gap is defined between the facing end surfaces of said at least one switch rail and said at least one stock rail when the switch rails are in the first and second transverse positions.

A points arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein said at least one switch rail and said at least one stock rail are tapered in the longitudinal direction to define a mitred connection that permits relative longitudinal movement between said at least one switch rail and said at least one stock rail.

A points arrangement according to any preceding claim, wherein both of the movable switch rails cooperate with both stock rails of either the first pair of stock rails or the second pair of stock rails when the movable switch rails are in the first and second transverse positions respectively, and both switch rails and both stocks rails of each of the first and second pairs are shaped to define a mating profile which independently aligns each switch rail with a corresponding stock rail and prevents transverse movement of the switch rails relative to the stock rails.

Railway points operating apparatus for a railway points arrangement comprising at least first and second pairs of longitudinally-extending, parallel-spaced static stock rails defining respectively a first route and a second route and a pair of longitudinally extending switch rails movable between a first position to select the first route and a second position to select the second route, wherein the railway points operating apparatus comprises:

• an actuator arrangement for moving the switch rails transversely and vertically about an arc between the first and second positions so that the switch rails are raised and lowered relative to the stock rails during said transverse movement;
• and
• a locking arrangement for preventing transverse horizontal movement of the switch rails from the first and second positions.