What is Reciprocal Switching?

[CandOforprogress2]

I assume each carrier takes turns switching the customer at a juntion?

[Euclid]

The answer is not simple, especially in the present context of a shipper demand for government regulations to add fairness to railroad pricing of service.  Here is a short thread in which the third post addresses your question:

http://cs.trains.com/trn/f/111/t/242752.aspx

 

 

[mudchicken]

Reciprocal Switching: A mutual interchange of inbound and outbound carload freight which is switched to or from a siding/spur/backtrack of another carrier under a regular switching charge. The charge is usually absorbed by the carrier receiving the line haul. -Railway Age's Comprehensive Railroad Dictionary.