Middle track, Lake Street bridge

I see remnants of a former middle track on the Lake Street bridge.

1) What was it for?

2) Why was it taken out?

3) Why having been taken out, did they leave the switches and a useless few feet of track?

Anyone?

Thanks.

I believe you are mistaking the "emergency derail tracks" for the lack of an official name. There was never any third track on either Wells ST or the Lake ST bridge. The diverging track was there to derail any train that failed to stop when the bridge was in the raised position. The switch points would be set in the diverging position hoping to derail any errant train.

David Harrison

It all becomes comes clear.

Would the train actually derail? I saw a few feet of track plus a bumper.

Before the latest track work...in about the last 10-15 years...the derail switches had a jump frog. Now regular frogs are installed. The bumping post would probably be good only for a low speed impact. Fortunately, they had never been tested by a train.

David Harrison