(erielack) Split Rail Derail Question

["David J. MV" <dmvgvt_@_earthlink.net>]

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The attached photo from George's List is a great shot from the rear of a
eastbound train on the Lackawanna Main MP333.4 showing the tower "MT MORRIS
PENNA" for the DL&W and "DL&W JUNCTION" for the Pennsy, just west of the
Genesee River Bridge, and west of the Mt Morris station, where the new G&W
branch breaks away from the old Lackawanna Main and heads across the Genesee
Valley to the new American Rock Salt mine.  The DL main diamonded the PRR
Rochester Branch, which was removed in the Fall of 1963.
\
The question is: what purpose does the trailing point derail serve?  It is
tied into the signal system with a switch circuit controller, which would
change I presume the eastbound [the way the photo is looking is west] home
signal protecting the diamond.  There would not be any traffic to derail
because the DL was not signaled in both directions at this location.  AND if
you did derail something it would wipe out the tower & towerman and still
hit a Pennsy train occupying the diamond.  Can anyone explain this
Lackawannaish thing?  David MV

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