What is a switch lead

[Biased turkey]

Could anyone please be kind enough to explain what a "switch lead" is ?
I used the search engine, but none of the found threads explain what it is.
Tia for any info.

 

[Nomad]

I may be wrong, but it is the short piece of track before the points that lead into the switch.

Loren

 

[MasonJar]

A switch lead (or switching lead, or drill track) is a long track (as long as the longest track in the yard) that is used when, well, switching. It avoids having to foul the main, and possibly reduces the number of turnouts your train must negotiate when shuttling back and forth.

Andrew

 

[Biased turkey]

First thanks to the forum members who took some of their time to reply.
Based on MasonJar reply that mentions the equivalent name "drilltrack" I had more luck with google and the search returned 2 interesting links:
http://lib.store.yahoo.net/lib/kalmbachcatalog/12248spread.pdf
and
http://www.theweebsite.com/trains/yards.html

 

[Squidbait]

If you're interested in this sort of thing, John Armstrong's Track Planning for Realistic Operation is a worthwhile read. He explains how and why railroads are laid out the way they are, including the hows and whys of switching leads.

 

[Triplex]

A switch lead (or switching lead, or drill track) is a long track (as long as the longest track in the yard) that is used when, well, switching.

The part about length is general advice, not part of the definition of a switch lead.

And if you look at British sources, you'll see them call the same thing a "headshunt".

 

[rogerw]

I have decided after reading this post I still need to do some more research before laying my track in a couple off weeks. I am heading up to wisconsin in a day and a half so I cant get it before I leave but when I get there I will find a hobby store and pick up john armstrongs book track planning for realistic operations. should make the trip back on the train very enjoyable.

 

[NP 1364]

switching lead

Most large flat yards have 1 east/south and 1 west/north main track then a arrival/departure track for each main.
A switching lead would be or could be the arrival/departure lead that would have the yard ladder switch near each end with head space between the yard switch and main switch that would hold x number of cars.
So the yard engine would pull a cut that would fit in the head space and drill/kick the cars into the proper tracks then go get some more and do the same thing untill all of the setout was switched.

Then a locomotive would pull the sorted cars out put them on the departure track to be picked up or the yard master would have the power cut off it train go into the yard pull its cut out get back on it train and leave

 

[MadHatter]

It is also known as a shunting neck.

 

[60103]

In some cases, a switch lead might be only big enough for a small engine and one car. This is a headache for the switchmen, but "operating interest" on a model railroad.