Jim Fitzgerald Wrote:
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> That may be true for Class 1, but there are many
> armstrong switches existing on tourist railroads
> all over the USA.

The article posted by OPRRMS about interlockings with armstrong levers was in reference to remotely operated switches (often controlled from a tower) that are operated remotely using only muscle power. Typically the remote mechanism is a series or rods and levers running from the switch back to the tower. The modern replacement for these mechanical dinosaurs is generally electrically operated switch motors.

Virtually all railroads, including Class 1's still have some manually operated switches, and likely will into the forseeable future. But those switches are operated right at the switch location.