A reverser handle is an operating control for a

railroad Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport using wheeled vehicles running in railway track, tracks, which usually consist of two parallel steel railway track, rails. Rail transport is one of the two primary means of ...

locomotive A locomotive is a rail transport, rail vehicle that provides the motive power for a train. Traditionally, locomotives pulled trains from the front. However, Push–pull train, push–pull operation has become common, and in the pursuit for ...

that is used to determine the direction of travel. The reverser usually has three positions: forward, reverse, and neutral.

Operation

When the reverser is in the forward or reverse position, the locomotive will move in the indicated direction when the

throttle A throttle is a mechanism by which fluid flow is managed by construction or obstruction. An engine's power can be increased or decreased by the restriction of inlet gases (by the use of a throttle), but usually decreased. The term ''throttle'' ha ...

is opened. Removing the reverser handle from the

control stand A control stand is a diesel-electric locomotive subsystem which integrates engine functional controls and brake functional controls, whereby all functional controls are "at hand" (within reach of the locomotive engineer from their customary seati ...

in the neutral position locks the throttle controller, effectively disabling the locomotive. The reverser lever is sometimes referred to as a "railroad key."

History

A reversing mechanism of some type has been present on locomotives almost since inception. The reversing lever on a

steam locomotive A steam locomotive is a locomotive that provides the force to move itself and other vehicles by means of the expansion of steam. It is fuelled by burning combustible material (usually coal, Fuel oil, oil or, rarely, Wood fuel, wood) to heat ...

is sometimes called a Johnson Bar. The style of reverser used on internal combustion locomotives has been in use since at least the early 1900s but as late as 1996 patented improvements have been made to the design and operation.

References

* * Locomotive parts {{rail-transport-stub

Operation

History

See also

References