Guard for switch in an industrial area

That is interesting. Never seen it done that way before but I don't doubt this isn't the first. When the switch is totally buried in asphalt/concrete, I've seen a flat-end rod inserted between the points and stock rail and it pushed over that way but am not sure how/if the points are locked into place to avoid stray movement. 

The switch TROW mechanism is what the protection guards are for. The actual switch points are buried in the pavement. This arrangement is not that uncommon.

Many PRR (and later PC and Conrail) girder rail switches in street trackage were thrown this way. There was a steel "plug" that was lifted out of the flangeway beside the point. The bar (often called a "switch iron" - nothing special - just about any pry bar would work) was then used to pry the point over and the plug was dropped back in the flangway now on the other side of the point. Most of the switches were single point, but a few were double point and you had to throw each point separately.

Often engines, street tractors, and cabin cars used on the street wound carry a few extra plugs in case one went missing.

I would think it is also to keep vehicles from driving into the pit, shallow as it may be, I can imagine what it would do to a vette.

Don

I actually saw a switch done in this manner when in Ft Worth Texas at a plant. The reason being.....keep people from running over the switch controller and to protect it from damage. In this case, it was fire engine red and had reflective tape on it so it would be seen readily at night by those traveling near it. Obviously, we cannot have people running switch handles over thus causing potential disasters to occur.

Pete

"Obviously, we cannot have people running switch handles over thus causing potential disasters to occur."

   Most of the street switches I recall on the SP had the throw mechanism below the street level with a steel plate lid that was opened to throw the switch. They are very easy to model if the turnout is thrown by under table motor or blue point controller, just a dummy steel lid in the appropriate place....DaveB