switchman

English

Etymology

From switch +‎ -man.

Noun

switchman (plural switchmen)

2. (rail transport) A person who operates railway switches that route trains onto rail tracks.

   Synonym: pointsman (UK)

   • 1959 August, Flt. Lt. R. M. Williams, “The German Federal Railways today: 2. Modern signalling at Hanover”, in Trains Illustrated, page 387:

     This route is repeated automatically on the control panel of the appropriate box as flashing indications covering the track circuits involved and the switchman obeys the instruction by setting up the required route.

4. (rail transport) A person whose job is to help in the switching of railcars in a railway yard.

   Synonyms: shunter, switcher, hostler, yard jockey

Related terms

• switch engine
• switcher

Translations

railway switch operator

• Greek: κλειδούχος (el) m (kleidoúchos)
• Ingrian: strelocnikka
• Russian: стре́лочник (ru) (stréločnik)

References

• “switchman”, in OneLook Dictionary Search.