"In a reciprocal switching agreement two railroads serving the same switching district agree to deliver cars to customers that were brought into town by the competing railroad but whose tracks are on their own switching network for a nominal charge (in some cases the token charge is completely absorbed). There are restrictions and limitations of course. At least part of the line haul on the way in had to be competitive, and the spotting location had to be to a private industrial spur. That is, you as a railroad could not force your competition to deliver your customers cars to your competitor's own facilities - like their Freight Houses or Team Tracks and still expect to get the über cheap rate."
Strange situation in Sacramento
Along "R" Street west of 19th Street the Southern Pacific line ran in the street and served customers on the south side. The Western Pacific line ran in the alley and WP owned R/W between "Q' and "R" streets where there were WP freight houses and WP served customers.
On the south side of "R" Street there was a short siding (a little over a block long) that served three customers. In front of the west customer and east customer the siding was designated a SP team track so serving those two customers was not at the low rate under the reciprocal swiching agreement. The middle of the siding was not designated a team track so serving that customer was at the low reciprocal rate.
The siding was the subject of a case before the California Railroad Commision; Read more here https://r-streetlayout.blogspot.com/2011/07/car-loading-data-for-valley-wholesale.html THURSDAY, JULY 14, 2011 Car Loading Data for Valley Wholesale Grocery
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.