Dave:
Thanks this is exacly what I was looking for. I appreciate it. I should be able to use this for my time period. - Nevin
I have pictures of the more "ergonomic" switch throws on the BN in Prarie du Chien WI that I took well over 20 years ago (I think it was still the BN I was railfanning, not the BNSF of 1995, but there was a brief time when you could railfan the BNSF all day and see nothing but BN green).
I do not believe they are required by regulation because I still see plenty of the old fashioned kind (backbreakers?). I wonder if it is something that is bargained over by the involved unions? From an economic standpoint there would be sound reasons (relating to FELA claims, sort of the railroad equivalent of worker's compensation) why a railroad might want to spend the money on ergonomic switchstands at least at strategic locations. Back injuries can be long lasting and easilly acquired. My mother slipped a disc picking up an EMPTY laundry basket.
This might help: my 1978 Track Cyclopedia from Simmons Boardman (the track equivalent to their Car and Locomotive Builder's Cyclopedia, and in both cases being sort of the prototype's equivalent to the Walthers catalog in showing what was commercially available) has no photos of and makes no mention of the ergonomic switch stands. It shows pretty standard Racor swtich stands but the text does mention continuing improvements in making them easy to install and to maintain. Not much emphasis on making them easy to throw!
I take from that that we are looking at something that was developed post-1978. Perhaps that helps.
Dave Nelson
I recently bought some Backsaver switch throw etched parts for my ME turnouts, but I thought it would be good to find out when these started to go into general usage. A google search brings up lots of companies selling backsaver switch throws but little on it's history. Were they an FRA mandate? Thanks.