What is this historical item?

[natedawg1604]

So, this photo was taken at a Museum, it's from a CTC machine installed in 1937 in Brush, Colorado. What exactly did these two switches control?

-Nate

 

[AK9R]

Maybe used by the operator to select which radio remote base they were using to communicate with trains?

 

[wa8pyr]

Maybe used by the operator to select which radio remote base they were using to communicate with trains?

Actually it's probably to do with the CTC codeline. If I recall correctly, it's much like the repeater on a telegraph line, which receives a telegraph signal and resends it to the next repeater or control point (instead of a human operator having to do it). It doesn't actually amplify the signal, but allows it to be sent over the line between stations when longer distances are involved.