A backshunt is a railway track configuration in situations where a change in (almost opposite) direction is required and a traditional curve cannot fit.
There are two main applications of a backshunt.
# To climb or drop a steep incline using a
Zig zag (railway)
A railway zig zag or switchback, is a method of climbing steep gradients with minimal need for tunnels and heavy earthworks. For a short distance (corresponding to the middle leg of the letter "Z"), the direction of travel is reversed, bef ...
# To change direction on to a parallel track, often used in industrial sidings.
Example Backshunts
* Part of the old
Cleator and Workington Junction Railway
The Cleator & Workington Junction Railway (C&WJR) was located in West Cumberland in Northern England, serving the towns of Cleator Moor and Workington and intermediate villages. It was mainly used for coal, limestone and iron ore traffic for t ...
was maintained in
Rowrah
Rowrah is a village in Cumbria, England, and spans the civil parishes of Arlecdon and Frizington and Lamplugh. The majority of Rowrah is within Arlecdon and Frizington. The parish boundaries are formed from the Windergill Beck and Colliergate B ...
as a backshunt from Rowrah Head Quarry on to the
Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway
The Whitehaven, Cleator and Egremont Railway was an English railway company which built and operated a standard gauge railway in Cumberland, England intended to open up the hematite orefield to the south-east of Whitehaven. It opened for go ...
.
See also
*
Headshunt
A headshunt (or escape track in the United States) is a short length of track provided to release locomotives at terminal platforms, or to allow shunting to take place clear of main lines.
Terminal headshunt
A 'terminal headshunt' is a short ...
References
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Railway track layouts