- Reverser handle
A reverser handle is an operating control for a
railroad locomotive that is used to determine the direction of travel. The reverser usually has three positions: forward,reverse , and neutral.When the reverser is in the forward or reverse position, the locomotive will move in the indicated direction when the
throttle is opened. The reverser handle can be removed from thecontrol stand cite web | title = Title 49: Transportation; PART 218—RAILROAD OPERATING PRACTICES | work = Electronic Code of Federal Regulations | publisher = GPO.GOV |date=44 FR 2175, Jan. 10, 1979, as amended at 48 FR 6123, Feb. 10, 1983 | url = http://ecfr.gpoaccess.gov/cgi/t/text/text-idx?c=ecfr&sid=c49cbb80d8931a0e3567f447694aa852&rgn=div6&view=text&node=49:4.1.1.1.13.2&idno=49 | format = web | accessdate = 2008-01-01 ] when placed in the neutral position, hence effectively disabling the locomotive.cite book | coauthors = Albert Sutton Richey, William Charles Greenough | title = Electric Railway Handbook: A Reference Book of Practice Data | publisher = McGraw-Hill Book Company, inc. |date=1915 | location = Original from the University of Michigan | pages = 356 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=23hIAAAAMAAJ&pg=PA356&lpg=PA356&dq=reverser+handle&source=web&ots=jJdZnQKP88&sig=ph3upiGv3GCg_RzJdOvTMg-rLjc | id = ] The reverser lever is sometimes referred to as a "railroad key."cite web | title = Railroad tool? | work = CPRR Discussion Group | publisher = Central Pacific Railroad Photographic History Museum |date=August 15, 2006 | url = http://cprr.org/CPRR_Discussion_Group/2006/08/railroad-tool.html | format = Web | accessdate = 2008-01-01 ]A reversing mechanism of some type has been present on locomotives almost since inception. The style of reverser used on internal combustion locomotives has been in use since at least the early 1900's but as late as 1996 patented improvements have been made to the design and operation.cite web | coauthors = Paul J. Kettle, Jr.; Ralph Santoro, Jr.; Vincent Ferri | title = Apparatus for interlocking reverser handle on a control stand of a railway locomotive | work = United States Patent 5542891 | publisher = US Patent office |date=August 6, 1996 | url = http://www.patentstorm.us/patents/5542891-claims.html | format = web | accessdate = 2008-01-01 ]
ee also
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Rail terminology
*Cutoff (steam engine) References
*cite book | last = Kirkman | first = Marshall Monroe | title = The Science of Railways | publisher = C. Phillips Co. |date=1915 | location = Original from the University of Wisconsin - Madison | pages = Page 262 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=b1Q5AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA262&dq=%22reverser+handle%22&as_brr=1&ie=ISO-8859-1 | doi = | id =
*cite book | coauthors = Sydney Whitmore Ashe, John D. Keiley | title = Electric Railways, Theoretically and Practically Treated | publisher = Van Nostrand |date=1905 | location = Original from the University of Michigan | pages = Page 104 | url = http://books.google.com/books?id=KcY3AAAAMAAJ&pg=PA104&dq=%22reverser+handle%22&as_brr=1&ie=ISO-8859-1#PPA104,M1 | doi = | id =
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