Epping- no 11 crossover removed.

The sections of line in advance of the fixed red lamps is part of the overrun for the station platforms. It is this length of track which allows Epping to have a high approach speed compared to a dead-end terminus.

I don't know why the points have now been removed, however as a guess since the track here forms part of the overrun (as well as occasionally used during engineering works or for transfers to/from Epping Ongar Railway) they are required to be maintained in some form of condition, perhaps there has come a time when their age/condition has become such that it's cheaper to remove them. Or, some other works were taking place in the area and the opportunity was taken to do it when equipment was already at site. Those are the two obvious possibilities.

Could they not simply be clipped and scotched, then left? Would seem to be a more cost-effect way of doing things!

It was removed 30/3/15.

Reliability and safety and to make sure everything is still within the manufactures guide lines for wear and tolerances. On newer point machines they are changed every 1,000,000 moves or 10 years whichever is the sooner, on some components in the machines though they are changed bit more frequent at 250,000 and 500,000 cycles but the whole thing is changed at 1,00,000. Depot and siding points which are on a 12 week maintenance cycle are changed every 20 years or the 1,000,000 operations.

Even in a de-commissioned state the points would still need to be looked at there maintenance cycle to make sure everything is still in place i.e scotch and clip

Epping is classed as terminal station so it would have the same speed as say West Ruislip and Ealing Broadway

Yes Epping is indeed a lot faster than most dead-end platforms because of the long over-run, this applies to both platforms as Platform 1 has the former Ongar branch whilst Platform 2 has the former east siding. The crossovers are also specifically laid out for fast running, both entering and leaving. West Ruislip also has a small over-run allowing a slightly faster approach, the slowest terminal platforms on the Central are Ealing Broadway and Woodford bay.

Entering Epping is one place you'd not want to be doing ATO speeds if driving manually, simply because all the liability is on the driver if you do overrun. Whilst not unsafe because of the long over-run, it would go down to the driver, whereas in ATO it wouldn't.

When the ATO came in High Barnet Platform 1 had a surprisingly high entry speed (around 20mph) despite being a dead-end and having a passenger walkway beyond the end. With the recent 95 stock brake performance issues a 10 mph TSR has now been implemented.

They have been trying for quite a few years to get parts and make the old frame work again not sure what progress it is at currently

I see, so what does it mean when CHT say that the signal cabin will be fully operational again? Will it be more of a display piece with operational leavers and diagrams etc..