A operated by hand system utilized in mannequin railroading for controlling the path of trains on a observe structure is usually a small, lever-style mechanism. This system permits hobbyists to direct their locomotives onto completely different sections of observe, creating sensible switching operations. A standard instance is the management of a locomotive’s path from a mainline onto a siding or department line.
These compact, user-friendly mechanisms provide exact management over prepare actions, enhancing the realism and operational complexity of a mannequin railroad structure. Their historic precedent lies within the bigger, hand-thrown switches used on actual railroads earlier than the widespread adoption of automated techniques. The flexibility to manually management prepare routing gives a tactile and fascinating side to the passion, permitting modelers to simulate real-world railroad operations.