1890s

The fundamental rule for railway safety is that there should only be one train at a time on each track section. If this rule is adhered to, there is no risk of collision between two trains.

Before a train can receive a clearance signal, it is necessary to ensure that no other trains are on the track. It is also essential to make sure that all switches are properly aligned along the track route (the distance a train is supposed to travel within the station area) and that the switches cannot be changed before the train has passed.

With the help of a switch stand like this one, main signals at a station could be operated remotely.

It is the duty of the signaller to ensure that the track route is clear and properly aligned before a train is allowed to enter or leave the station area.

In the early days of railways, a man was stationed at each switch along the track route to ensure that no switches were accidentally changed. When the track route was secured, the signaller gave the clearance signal to the train. This could be done either through hand signals or fixed signals.

Soon, remotely controlled signals were introduced that the train dispatcher could operate from a switch stand at the station building. With the levers, he could set the station's entry signals either to "stop" or "proceed." When the signal was set to "proceed," the switch automatically locked in the correct position and could not be changed until the semaphore was set to stop again. This eliminated the need to station a man at the entry switch. At the same time, the entry signal at the other end of the station area was locked at "stop."

This switch stand comes from Bankeberg (later Vikingstad) station in Östergötland. It is intended for two entry signals. Safety installations of this type were installed during the 1890s at many stations between Stockholm and Malmö.