Metro North Railroad had installed FasTrack on the Hudson Line !!
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It looks more like dual-gauge track to me; meter and standard gauges. 
@JamesRx posted:Metro North Railroad had installed FasTrack on the Hudson Line !!
Cool! However, that "center rail" isn't even attached to those nice new concrete ties.
@Hot Water posted:Cool! However, that "center rail" isn't even attached to those nice new concrete ties.
True!! But I couldn’t help but think of my home layout when I saw those tracks. And the Penn Central heritage unit just flew by….
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The track is there so a train that is running full speed on the mainline and does not stop at that station does not have to slow down going through the station. It straddles the two main tracks with its wheels on both of what looks to be an offset third rail.
@Randy Harrison posted:The track is there so a train that is running full speed on the mainline and does not stop at that station does not have to slow down going through the station. It straddles the two main tracks with its wheels on both of what looks to be an offset third rail.
Surely you jest! Did you not notice that the "extra", i.e. 3rd rail, is NOT even affixed to the ties?
@Hot Water posted:Surely you jest! Did you not notice that the "extra", i.e. 3rd rail, is NOT even affixed to the ties?
I did not examine the photo closely but, it reminded me of a track configuration in a small Amtrack station, New Carrolton, Maryland just outside of Union Station, Washington DC. The Amtrak mainline is only two tracks at that point. Only Maryland Commuter Rail Trains (MARC) and select Amtrak trains stop at New Carrollton. There is a third permanent rail on each of the mainline tracks positioned very much like the ones in the photo. Trains like the Acela do not stop at New Carrolton on their way to and from New York. When express trains approach New Carrolton. a switch is thrown, and the express seems to be running at full speed between the 2 mainline tracks but just far enough away from both the northbound and southbound station platforms to somewhat reduced the wind for the waiting passengers on the platforms as the train runs through the station. As I remember the photo that you reference, it was at a station. Is it possible that such a track arrangement for the station is in the imminent future and those rails are laying there waiting to be installed when more rails are delivered?
It is simply put there temporarily until it replaces the existing section that is worn during a trackwork program.
