How Long Ar Train Sidings

Referring to the extension of the asl fitzgerald subdivision siding athatley on csx to 11 239 feet a question was posted in the railroad list railroad cunyvm cuny edu bit listserv railroad asking when a section of 2tracks is a siding and a main track and when it is two main tracks.

How long ar train sidings. To implement longer trains railroad operators may run long trains in a single direction or fleet trains or extend sidings enough to facilitate bidirectional operation of long trains. Generally the designation siding or main track is a matter of function. Railroads if at all possible tried to make passing sidings longer than the longest train to run on the line so normally a train wouldn t have to be squeezed into just fitting into a siding. A siding in rail terminology is a low speed track section distinct from a running line or through route such as a main line or branch line or spur it may connect to through track or to other sidings at either end.

Sidings often have lighter rails meant for lower speed or less heavy traffic and few if any signals. By that time most class i railroads ran trains of 1 2 to 1 mile in length so a mile would be typical for passing sidings. Of course sometimes the train is too long and to pass another train they have to do a saw by.