facing points

English

A diagram of facing points

Noun

facing points pl (normally plural, singular facing point)

1. (rail transport) A set of points at which two routes diverge in the direction of travel.
   • 1941 June, “Notes and News: Working and Locking Facing Points”, in Railway Magazine, pages 278–279:

     Harrison said he had such a horror of facing points that for many years in the 160 miles between York and Berwick there were, except in Darlington and Newcastle stations, only three examples. [...] For some years now facing points have been practically as safe as any other part of the track and are regularly taken at high speed.

Antonyms

• trailing points