An electric locked switch and an electric locked switch timer are two different things but may be used together. An electric locked switch is a hand thrown switch the electric lock being controlled by a dispatcher or an operator at a distant point. The timer, more prevelant at interlockings switches, is so that after unlocking there is a waiting time before the physical change can be made to determine if there are other trains approaching before the movement fouls the swithch. I've heard it is also used to give crews time to think through their move. That usually occurs when a movement is altered or changed after a signal governing the switch has changed it's aspect. If a train is a block or two away, it has to react to signals dropping in front of it, i.e. from clear to approach or clear or approach to stop. Thus the time allows for safety.
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I was reading about railroad rules at Al Krug's site. Very interesting!
http://krugtales.50megs.com/rrpictale/rules/rule_eleclock.htm
The site talked about a hand-operated electric lock switch that had a 7 min. wait period. I got the impression that you couldn't throw the switch if the train wasn't right next to it. It also mentioned about unlocking the switch but not thowing at that time.
Will somebody explain about this type of switch, how it is used, and how it works.
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