Everything on model trains, model railroads, model railways, locomotives, model train layouts, scenery, wiring, DCC and more. Enjoy the world's best hobby... model railroading!
4 Responses to Sidings and Spurs
Leave a Reply
SUBMIT YOUR QUESTION
Download Your Free Catalog
Use Tiny Railroad Micro Controllers
Model Train Help Ebook
Depends on where you come from and the cultural heritage. Spur appears to have come from the US of A where as siding from British colonial times
Similar to what David says. In North America a siding has a switch (or points) at both ends, so to my mind it’s a passing loop. A spur in North America is what I called a siding when I was growing up in the UK, ie a single switch (point) to a length of track that terminates.
I’m sure there would be a market for a dictionary that translates North American railroad english to British railway english. Another example would be a Bo-Bo British diesel which would be a B-B in North America. (Not to mention all the non-railroading words I had to learn!)
I go with Geoff. In the US in my club, a spur is a single ended piece of track off one switch and ends.
A siding could be serving an industry if it comes back onto the main at both ends.
the other is a passing siding to let a train go by or get the loco around to the other end of the consist
There is no definitive answer. Both serve an industry via rail. Personally, I would tend to define a siding as having a turnout at both ends. And a spur as a dead end. But that isn’t 100% true.