Train track derailers - photos

[BuffaloJohn]

So, why would you want to derail a train in a peace-time setting? Rerailing a train car takes considerable time and effort; wouldn't a simple barrier, as seen on many dead end sidings, be adequate?

Just in case, because stuff happens...

There are plenty of stories out there about how these devices have saved lives. When working on a section, the humans need to be protected. Sometimes, radios don't have coverage, or traffic control has issues, or the message didn't get to the operating crew in time, or whatever.

These devices sometimes protect from going down a track where worse that a derailment might happen.

It's actually not that hard to re-rail a car if it happens...