ex-BN Wrote:
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>The best derail is a full switch heading to another track.
>This was common in New Zealand at the ends of all sidings
>on both the main and siding as I recall.

Correct until WC bought the NZR, came along and tore nearly all the Safety Points out, too costly to maintain they said, still got the Catch Points at the end of the double track atop the Paekakariki bank fortunately. Nothing got the heart pumping a bit faster at 0330 like trying to get a train with one less wagon than the crossing total of the loop on a downgrade, without going in the dirt while an express was sitting at the Home stick waiting on you. Got that a lot on the Main Trunk with the old 50's style short crossing loops, along came the Electrification and longer sidings and of course the trains got longer too, back to the old one less wagon totals {:))

Way back in the 80's I remember a Trains mag article written by a Espee Enginedriver called Night Dragons and Geeps, relating similar expectations.

Chris
in New Zealand