Switchman

For the Juan José Arreola short story, see The Switchman. "Pointsman" redirects here. For the official stationed typically at an intersection to direct traffic, see traffic guard.

A cropped 1943 Jack Delano photograph of a switchman throwing a switch at Chicago and North Western Railway's Proviso Yard in Chicago, Illinois, United States

A switchman (North America) or pointsman (British Isles) is a rail transport worker whose original job was to operate various railway switches or points on a railroad. It also refers to a person who assists in moving cars in a railway yard or terminal or one who operates the switches of mine tracks in a coal mine.

A switchman often works as part of 3 member switching crew consisting of an Engineer, Conductor and Switchman. The conductor or foreman on the job is responsible for giving direction to the switchman in order to properly line switches to ensure cars are lined into the correct track and blocked correctly with like cars scheduled to a similar destination.

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