Train track change up close - GIF

[Saltfever]

The red circles show the difference between the main, shinny track and the rusty dormant track. The short piece of guide-track ("X") is expected to be rusty as wheels do not ride on top of it. This pic shows the alternate track is rusty. Clearly two different tracks.

[carl blum]

HI:
The track with a red "X" is a guard rail, and is never ridden on. It isn't connected to any rails at either end. This area is an escape for the Skate. If you look before and after this area there are only the normal two rails, left and right. If this were a turnout there would be four rails at the end. If the skate were forcing a change wouldn't they need a skate at each truck? That would be a lot of labor.
I wonder where this is filmed? The end of the truck bearings doesn't look like the USA style roller bearing package. That might be why they are using a labor intencive method rather that computer driven phenumatic retarders.
Carl.