开云体育

Two days ago, I saw an instance of prototype Gravity Switching.?

??

They have a runaround track is too inconveniently away, and the main line has enough of a grade so cars will start to roll by themselves, and under control by a rider adjusting a hand brake. The cars are left on the track leading to the point end of the turnout, then the loco runs ahead into that spur, then its turnout is reset for the main.? The rider loosens the brake, the cars roll, then the rider stops them after they get past the fouling point. The loco goes to the main, the turnout is "normalized," then the loco can back up and couple to the cars.? The loco is now on the other end of the cars from where it started.

Come to think of it, I think the Strasburg Railroad does this on its "Paradise" end.