During the journey on the train, passengers often get to see the rules and regulations or old rituals related to the railway. You must have noticed that whenever a train arrives at a station, a railway worker standing on the platform hands over an iron ring to the train’s driver. Many people think about what this thing is and what its use is. Let us tell you that this is a token exchange system. Although its practice is slowly dying out, this method is still used in many parts of the country.

Since you have learned that this iron ring given to the train’s driver is called the token exchange system, let us now tell you in detail what it is helpful for and when it started in the railways.

Token exchange system for the safety of trains Token
the exchange system is used for the safe and better operation of trains. This technique has been going on since the time of the British. Earlier, there were no track circuits in the rail. In such a situation, the train used to reach the station after completing the journey safely through the token exchange system.

Years ago, the railways
did not have advanced technology like today, so safe operation was ensured through many methods. InitialInitiallyo be only a single and shoa rt tracks, and the train,s coming from both sides were run the same way. In such a situation, a token exchange system was used to prevent collision incidents on trains.

The line is cleared on receipt of the token exchange.
The token exchange system is a steel ring, which givethe station master gives loco pilot. The driver getting this token indicates that the line is clear till the next station, and you can proceed. On reaching the next station, the loco pilot deposits this token and proceeds with another pass. A token system is usually used for a single line as there is a greater risk of collision in the event of a mistake by the signaller or train crew than for a double line.

There iAn this steel ring given tis o the loco pilot, which is called a tablet in the railway language. This ball is inserted into the ‘nail ball machine’ installed at the station. The station master declares the route clear for the next station after putting the ball in the machine taken from the train driver. However, now ‘track circuit’ is being used instead of a token exchange system.