Plate 92:  A newly-positioned left-hand point on the roadbed of the lower north girder
(This plate added OCT 2003)

The left-hand point (British usage, "left-hand switch" in America) shown in Plate 90, where the point created a branch to a spur track from the mid-level curve, has been moved east to a new position at the center of the lower north girder. The reason for moving the point to this new position is to provide a connection to a new locomotive-storage yard at the 4-1/2 inch level. --more--

This new yard will be the home base for "road engines" (long-distance main-line locomotives, such as the "Flying Scotsman"). After trains are "made up" by "yard engines" (short-distance switcher locomotives that operate only in rail yards), the road engines will emerge from their storage yard, couple to the front of the made-up trains, and take these trains onto the main-line tracks. Temporary adjustments to track levels are provided by toothpick shims, which can be seen at various spots near the point. These small temporary adjustments help to prevent locomotives from stalling at points during the early phases of track testing. Go to top of page