This is a Bethlehem DES 465 switch latch for locking out a railway turnout. They were used in tandem on a track switch to lock the switching lever in one direction or the other. A padlock was used to prevent unauthorized movement of the switch. They seem to be fairly common online, though no pictures of one actually in use.
4 comments:
Somebody still sells what looks to be a welded (vs cast) copy, so maybe these switches are still in use in private railyards and need to be replaced occasionally. Odd that it's so cheap.
https://kimessteel.com/products/k51-foot-lever-catch
http://lst-zittau.blogspot.com/2016/11/dreharbeiten-zum-lehrfilm.html
They're used everywhere! and the new welded ones are cheaoer than the the antiques... Thanks for the links!
I still can't figure how they can make and sell that thing for the price of only 12 cups of Tim's medium regular coffee. Gotta be a misprint.
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