[James Allen]

Can anyone out there help me with a query about flat crossings (eg Newark)? I know that with standard points there is always part of the rail supporting the wheel, but this cannot be the case with flat crossings, and the wheel must momentarily fall into the gap and cause considerable stress on both the wheel and the rail. On the Newark crossing ECML trains pass over at 100mph. Is this sufficient to increase the horizontal forces to keep the dip in the wheel to an absolute minumum? Any information about these matters would be very welcome.