Because of several incidents caused by switches not "normalled", NS and other railroads now have a form, the Switch Position Awareness Form (SPAF) to be filled out by the crewmember operating the switch, showing the time first reversed and last normalled, and witnessed by the Engineer ! This is, of course, in "Dark Territory" un-signalled track. Manual switches in signalled track will "knock down" the signals approaching the switch if it's not "Lined and Locked Normal" to a "Restricting" indication, and show an alert to the Dispatcher. Some of these also have timers to prevent changing the position for some period to allow a train already by the previous signal to show up or pass the switch. The Dispatcher may allow you to leave a switch reversed in either manual or automatic territory, but you have to ASK, and record it on yer SPAF. Happy Motoring ! Bob c