... saddle chairs (which support the rail but have no jaws or keys), but such things are quite unusual to see in most bullhead track. For flat-bottom track the timbers can be closer to joints because the fishplates can fit above the rail fixings in most cases. The above applies to standard-gauge track (nowadays called "heavy rail") -- for narrow-gauge, light railways, trams, industrial sidings, etc., almost anything is possible. Jason you can see in your diagram: 2_050731_570000000.png that Templot has closed up the spacings adjacent to the rail joints at A. The position of these joints is generally fixed by the design of the switches and V-crossings. There are special chairs for switches and V-crossings which must fit the rails at specified positions, so there isn't much scope for moving timbers to and fro within a standard turnout. But at B and C some adjustments might be needed. At these locations the rail joints can be moved if necessary by shortening the vee rails on site to ...