Anorak said:
This is probably a stupid question but as I'm not familiar with railway operations it has to be asked.
I've noticed a lot of people add additional rails in the centre of their tracks when they are going over bridges. I assume it's something to do stopping derailments but that is a guess on my part.
Enlighten me please :wave:
It's been said before many times no question is stupid, it's how we all gain knowledge. The rails you refer to are called check-rails and the rules on where to fit them vary from place to place. They can be fitted round the inside of a very tight curve to assist tracking of the axles round it. On bridges they are just as you suggest to guard agaist the possibility of derailment. Just a safety feature.