Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2019 March 10

= March 10 =

Myanmar railways
This device was photographed on the way from Pyin Oo Lwin to Goteik viaduct (Myanmar). Is this a dysfunctional Railroad switch? Etan J. Tal(talk) 21:10, 10 March 2019 (UTC) And this one?


 * I used to have a device like the top one in my backyard. It was a ox-driven water pump. The opening on the front is where the water streams out. The peg is to make it stop turning when not in use - also making it easier to tie an ox (or donkey or horse or bad little kid) to. It is possible that it pumps something other than water, but the one I had was a water pump. I tested it. It worked, but I didn't need it. So, I had it removed. 12.207.168.3 (talk) 13:30, 11 March 2019 (UTC)


 * The top one has a long handle, presumably to move the thing, and a short handle, to lock it in place. There's a chain attached at the bottom. Assuming this is railway-related, it could be to operate points (a switch) or a signal, but I consider that not very likely. It could also be to operate a water crane or the barriers of a level crossing. A level crossing seems most likely. The bottom image shows a set of points that is, apart from some rust and abundant flora, in decent condition. PiusImpavidus (talk) 14:35, 12 March 2019 (UTC)
 * In the top image, the chain is loose (you can see it at the very bottom of the image; the chain runs horizontally through a trough). Could it have been for a turntable? LongHairedFop (talk) 19:27, 12 March 2019 (UTC)