Damn Canuckistanians

Hand signals for switching vary all over North America.

In this area of the country, on many roads, a switchman can give a "come towards me" or a "go away from me" signal. A circular arm motion where the hand rises and comes towards the switchman's chest, then falls away is a "come towards me." A circular motion that is the opposite is a "go away". Some people do them in elegantly formed circles over their heads; others do them at chest height, swinging their arms on their elbows like a windmill. But the use of a circular pattern -- varying by direction for towards or away the signal giver -- is pretty damn universal here.

Night rules are different. At night, you use a simple set of signals. There are still variations, but some hold universally true: a side to side lantern swing is a wash out, indicating a stop. It's violence usually imparts how abruptly the stop is needed. An up and down motion is an ahead. A circular motion means back up.

In Canada, they cheat. They use night signals in the day, sans lantern.

On a recent trip with a certain infamous steam engine to Tacoma, WA, the local switchman in font of said engine gave Tom PITA a come towards me. Tom began to back up. The switchman stopped him, and went up to the cab.

"That was a come towards me. Learn it. You're in America now."