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 1943 color photograph of a switchman at work at the Chicago and North Western Railway's Proviso Yard in Chicago.
A Russian switchman on the Trans-Siberian Railway, photographed by Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky between 1905 and 1915.
The grave of John Cook, pointsman, Corstorphine, Edinburgh

A switchman (North America) also known as pointsman (British Isles) or yardman (Commonwealth) 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.