headchairs

Noun

headchair (plural headchairs)

1. Part of a block switch on a railway line that the ends of the moveable rails rest on, and to which the stationary rails are attached.
   • I desire to be understood'as disclaimin g the broad features, first, of making a railway headchair with bearing-cheeks of different heights, one for the flange and the other for the tread of a car-wheel, whereby, in passing over theswitch on either the main or the side track rail, the wheel will...1878, Specifications and Drawings of Patents Issued from the U.S. Patent Office