Posted by Ky.CatFan on June 15, 2009 
I don't believe that I have seen this in a RailPictures photo before. Let your eye follow the rails towards the PCC car, about midway you will see what appears to be switch points. Note that the points in front of the PCC car are pointing away from the trolley and towards the camera. The points of the other track point away from the camera, thus the points, point away from the direction of travel on both tracks so as to prevent the flanges from picking the points. These sliding points allow for expansion of both the rails and the bridge structure which is why they are there at all. This is found on fixed bridges and steel trestles. Lift bridges,and swing bridges handle expansion and contraction in other ways. A very neat shot Marty.
Posted by John Roth on June 15, 2009 
Every time I'm at Station Square, I can't get over how beautiful that bridge is. Great shot.
Posted by Doug Wolfe on June 16, 2009 
Another great one Marty.
Posted by Marty Bernard on June 16, 2009 
Those are not switch points. They are expansion joints and allow for the metal bridge to expand and contract with the temperature. They are different for the different directions cars travel on the tracks.
- Post a Comment -