Translation guide
A worker who manually operated railway switches to guide trains onto different tracks, historically common before automation.
A railway worker who manually changes the points/switches to direct trains.
The standard historical term for a switch operator or pointsman. Still used in historical contexts or museums.
彼の祖父は転轍手として働いていた。
His grandfather worked as a switch operator.
Loanword from English 'pointsman', used in some railway contexts, but less common than 転轍手.
Literally 'signal handler', this can refer to a worker who operates signals and switches, but is more general and less specific to switch operation.
信号扱い手は列車の進路を切り替える。
The signal handler changes the train's route.
In old stations, there were pointsmen.