What is this tool used for - just out of idle curiosity?

[whole diary]

[smithy]

Thanks for your answers!

Yes, I thought it had to be something to do with chocking wheels on trains - but:

- It doesn't appear to have ever been used, in terms of any damage to its profile;

- It's surely the wrong diameter for the wheels on a Voyager;

- The broom handle (unless it's detachable) would make it unusable at its location on the western end of platform 8 - assuming that the 'down' slope is towards the dip under Bath Bridge.

Hence my bewilderment. 

perfectly useable they are handed just depands what side of the wheelset you put it,also there are different wheel scotch's for different types of train hence the yellow paint although they will do the job on anything still.

[caliwag]

Regarding the Tilting shoe, a colleage has suggested that early versions were produced with a variable cast bronze adjuster, which does seem reasonable to me. So far, despite living 5 minutes walk from the archives in York, I have not uncovered any evidence. So, has anyone any thoughts?

I am going to research the Caley, given that Pickersgill was known to encourage In-House development.

I know he landed on the Southern...so any afficianados?