This manually operated rail switch was instrumental to the safe operation of the Texas Electric Railway. Railway staff removed the padlock and flipped the manual switch to redirect train cars from the main line to a siding line, allowing other trains traveling in the opposite direction to pass. When the switch was flipped, the red flag turned 90° to make it visible to the motorman and indicate that the train was set to go to the siding station. Both mechanical and electrically operated rail switches are still used on railroads today.