And yet, Geoff, the two railwaymen that you mention in your earlier post did call them points.
Certainly operators on the 'big' railway today do term them 'points', I've heard that expression used many times.
But current PW engineers also refer to 'switches' for the blades, and 'crossings' for the 'frog'. This can be confusing to operators, as the term 'crossing' is also used for a level crossing!
But then again, it is the engineers who are the grown-ups on Network Rail these days, so we operators usually just have to do as we're told!
Tim,
It certainly is confusing, and as Martin points out, (Crumbs here I go again ) it doesn't help when trying to explain how to build a turnout, there I've said it
One of the railwaymen, who I am still in touch with, is still going strong at the grand old age of 89. He worked his way up from a goods guard, and ended up as BR Area Relief Manager. Thanks to him I was able to enjoy a good few cab rides, and visit several locations that were, and I suppose still are strictly, out of bounds for the enthusiast. So when a chap of his experience, and two of his old railway chums, both of whom were 'hands on' railwaymen in the PW dept., tell you in pleasant terms, that you are talking nonsense, you've got to take notice.
But as Martin, and yourself say, whether you use the term point, or turnout depends on whether you are an operator, or engineer. I suppose we modellers could be described as both, which adds to the confusion.
Your comment about the engineers being the grown ups, and you operators having to do as you are told, reminds of what my old manager friend told many years ago. He said how happy he was to get out of the railway industry just before privatisation, when everything was turned on its head, and years of experience was cast aside.
In the meantime, I'm struggling to fit my '0' gauge plans into a 4mm pot, two ideas rejected so far, perhaps it will be third time lucky?
Geoff