The off railer is used for establishing a portable line, at any point, diverging to the right or left of a permanent line, and for transferring traffic to it without interruption.  It consists of a miniature inclined plane, of the same height at one end as the rail, tapering off regularly by degrees toward the other end.  It is only necessary to place the off-railer (which, like all the lengths of rail of this system, forms but one piece with its sleepers and fish-plates) on the fixed line, adding a curve in the direction it is intended to go, and push the wagons on to the off-railer, when they will gradually leave the fixed line and pass on the new track.

The switches consist of a rail-end 49 in. in length, which serves as a movable tongue, placed in front of a complete crossing, the rails of which have a radius of 4, 6, or 8 meters; a push with the foot suffices to alter the switch.  There are four different models of crossings constructed for each radius, viz.: 

1.  For two tracks with symmetrical divergence.

2.  For a curve to the right and a straight track.

3.  For a curve to the left and a straight track.

4.  For a meeting of three tracks.

When a fixed line is used, it is better to replace the movable switch by a fixed cast-iron switch, and to let the workmen who drive the wagon push it in the direction required.  Planed switch tongues are also used, having the shape of those employed on the normal tracks, especially for the passage of small engines; the switches are, in this case, completed by the application of a hand lever.

The portable turntable consists of two faced plates laid over the other, one of thick sheet iron, and the other of cast iron.  The sheet-iron plate is fitted with a pivot, around which the cast iron one is made to revolve; these plates may either be smooth, or grooved for the wheels.  The former are used chiefly when it is required to turn wagons or trucks of light burden, or, in the case of earthworks, for trucks of moderate weight.  These plates are quite portable; their weight for the 16 in. gauge does not exceed 200 lb.  For engineering works a turntable plate with variable width of track has been designed, admitting of different tracks being used over the same turntable.

When turntables are required for permanent lines, and to sustain heavy burdens, turntables with a cast iron box are required, constructed on the principle of the turntables of ordinary railways.  The heaviest wagons may be placed on these box turntables, without any portion suffering damage or disturbing the level of the ground.  In the case of coal mines, paper mills, cow houses with permanent lines, etc., fixed plates are employed.  Such plates need only be applied where the line is always wet, or in workshops where the use of turntables is not of frequent occurrence.  This fixed plate is most useful in farmers’ stables, as it does not present any projection which might hurt the feet of the cattle, and is easy to clean.