... fishplate bolts in some forms of installation which will impede the smooth operation of the switch rails by pinching the end of the switch rail. The test was one man sliding the entire mechanism to each position where it would stay unaided. This of course was done without any connection to the point rodding. Possibly where the concept of leaving the bolts a little slack comes from dealing with that. Matt M. posted: 17 Feb 2019 18:41 from: John Palmer Thanks Matt, that all makes good sense to me. 2129_171318_080000000.jpg This is an enlargement from a photograph I've previously posted showing components in a North British Railway loose heel switch, including the cast heel plate with chairs cast integrally. There's no sign of a gauge pin/rail stop in the middle of the outer fishplate, but I take it this function is performed by the part of the casting I have indicated. The lower part of the heel plate lying beneath the rails is all but invisible in the picture but must help to support the rails- and the tongue in particular- ...