what are they

[rich1998]

the wheel is over a depressed section of rail.

that would tell me the device is suppose to activate something when the loco or car wheel paases over it.
Any electrical terminals on it? Any moveable parts? Does it look like something else might work with it? The photo is kind of blurry.

Lex

[Daylight4449]

it is a bachmann device

[jbsmith]

those are  possibly track sections for something like these

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/bachmannhoscaleaccessoriesandkits/id50.html

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/bachmannhoscaleaccessoriesandkits/id61.html

http://www.ho-scaletrains.net/bachmannhoscaleaccessoriesandkits/id55.html

minus a number of the original parts

[jonathan]

The more I look at the photo, the more it looks like an activation switch of some kind.  As the train passes, it makes contact with the gizmo on the right, and turns something on.  Just a guess...

Jonathan