... switch blades are 3/8" thick at the tip and very much more robust than the undercut blades used in trailing locations (not on the GWR and BR(W ), where all switches are straightcut/joggled). Visitors to the Severn Valley Railway at Kidderminster can very easily observe the difference between joggled and unjoggled switches. In platform 1 the engine release turnout at the buffer stops has an REA semi-curved flexible switch with undercut-pattern switch blades (set, no joggle): joggle-3.gif rea_no_joggle1.jpg rea_no_joggle2.jpg____ Across in platform 2 the engine release turnout has a GWR curved flexible switch with straightcut-pattern blades and joggled stock rails. The very much more robust nature of the blade tips in this case is very evident: joggle-1.gif gwr_joggle1.jpg gwr_joggle2.jpg____ Notice that in the undercut switch (upper two pictures) the blades are not shiny on top at the tip -- they serve only to guide the wheel flange, not to support the wheel, at the tip. In the straightcut ...