Card guide teaches how to correctly interpret rail switch points

Aldon Company has introduced its new Switch Checker, a pocket-sized card which teaches workers how to correctly “read” switch points and thus avoid confusion about switch alignment. Switch lining errors at the least send a train down the wrong track but can also cause damage to switch gearing, the company says, or even cause a derailment.

Switch Checker from Aldon consists of a two-sided waterproof card depicting, on one side, Facing Point views for a Left-Hand Turnout and a Right-Hand Turnout, and on the other side, Trailing Point views of both switches.

A lenticular lens holds a double image which shows the movement of the points when the switch is lined for the main track and for the side track. When the card is tilted up or down, the alignment view changes. In each view a green or red arrow indicates which track the train will take.

The guide enables a worker to confirm that the switch is correctly lined for the intended train movement. Use of the card can also help prevent damaging Trailing Point “run throughs.”

Aldon offers a brief video to show how Switch Checker works at www.aldonco.com/checker