Just Googling around I cannot see many instances of the targets on switch stands ever being numbered to indicate a switch designation. I did not expect to find that they were either. But in a recent movie I saw a sign next to or near to the switch which read Switch 16.
Now such things would be great for me, peering with aged eyes down at my homemade yard diagram and up at the myriad of switches in the yard trying to remember what was where.
I would appreciate any tips or thoughts on this, or pictures of such things where they exist. Only found these two instances, and I don’t think they necessary refer to a switch number designation.
many years ago the yard i worked in had all the switches in the class yard numbered. there were 19 tracks. there was a metal plate across the headblocks between the switch stand and the rail. a number had been arc welded on the steel plate and some of them were even stencilled with white paint. these were only visable to a man on the ground who was looking straight down at the switch stand.
I’ve seen class yards with track numbers cut from old license plates nailed to the switch ties (Conrail’s Bayview Yard in Baltimore comes to mind). Have also seen track numbers painted on switch targets, but don’t recall if it was on railroad-owned or industry- owned trackage. It was pretty common to see switch numbers (not track numbers) stenciled on switch motors at interlockings.
Interesting pictures. Broom hanging on target in top photo and derail reminder in the bottom photo.
well, well, well…I just happened to be taking a break from work by driving over to the UP engine yard near me where they are installing some new track (cement ties, which I can’t stand to look at), and guess what I noticed after having read your question earlier today during yet another break from work (!)?
Not only are the switches numbered, but there’s a BROOM hanging off some pole near one of them!
I’ll try to get back there with my camera a post some pictures tomorrow or as soon as I can.
There is probably a chisel at the other end of that broom handle. Great for chipping ice from the points, and sweeping the behind the points. As for numbers, they are fairly common in the places I’ve worked. However when switch targets get replaced, the numbers don’t always get stenciled on.
