catch points

alternative catchpoints

1. UKrail transportA set of points provided to derail rail vehicles out of control on a steep gradient.

   1 more example

   Many freights were not fully braked, and catch points were provided on steep gradients to derail runaway wagons. The points cost money to maintain and were a hassle when wrong-line working was needed. With the Settle-Carlisle Line available as an alternative, all catch points were removed over Shap, which meant only fully braked trains could traverse the route.

   2020 April 8, David Clough, “How the West Coast wiring war was won”, in Rail, page 63