Cleveland Museum of Art

Thirty-Six Views of the Eiffel Tower: From the Quai de Javel (Switchman's Shanty)

Henri Rivière

Date

1902

Medium

color lithograph

Culture

France, early 20th century

Department

Prints

Institution

Cleveland Museum of Art

The switchman’s principal duty was to switch tracks to direct an oncoming train to its destination, regulate a train’s speed, and signal the open track to the train conductor. The red and white checkered flag was used for the latter purpose and was placed on the side of the open tracks. The switchman was also responsible for manning the telegraph, whose white poles line the opposite side of the tracks. When he was off duty, the switchman grew vegetables on the bank bordering the railway, as was the custom with railway workers.

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