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That's a derail. It is intended to derail a slow-moving freight car that has been spotted on a siding and starts to roll, because there is a grade and maybe the handbrake is not fully applied. It can be removed by simply folding it back onto its housing. It's also known as a "hop toad".
The problem with these derails is that, if a car is moving faster than just a few miles an hour, it can jump right over the derail and end up back on the rails. A "split rail" derail that looks like a switch point is a better choice if higher speeds are expected or possible.
Kiernan Member # 3828
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You see interesting things on railroad tracks. When my sister was about 10 or 12, she came home one day and said, "Look what I found on the train track, Daddy!" She was wearing a railroad torpedo on her wrist like a bracelet.
George Harris Member # 2077
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These things come in left handed and right handed versions. This is right handed in that it pushes the car to the right. A lot of times these are placed on industrial tracks to mark the 14 ft track center clearance point which is also usually the point where track ownership changes from the railroad to the industry. Therefore, they will be found where there is no danger of a car rolling into the main by gravity.
George
RRCHINA Member # 1514
posted
Derails are , or should be, locked to prevent tampering. In addition to gravity inducing a car to roll it may also be moved by excessive wind and by persons moving it with bad intentions.
In summary, it is a safety device and the one shown in the photo is operated from a switch stand (note the red rod extending under the rail).
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