today i saw on the track a yellow device about a foot in length placed on the inside against the rail with a hinged piece. The day before that the hinged piece was locked over the rail as if to ensure no rail traffic crossing through. Unfortunatly i don’t have a picture, could anyone tell me what it is?
Sounds like a derail. A derail is a device designed to actually derail cars, or even engines, off the track at a certain location to prevent any interference with the mainline.
The only thing that matches that description is a derail like GUILFORD350 said.
thanks[8D]
For a picture of a derail device and other railroad safety products, take a browse of the web site http://www.wch.com/. Select Catalog link at left on web site, then select Hinge Derails under the MOW Equipment column. Actually some very interesting deatail info on this web site for what makes a railroad run.