A heating element, typically powered by electricity or natural gas, installed directly on the rails at a switch (points). It prevents snow and ice from packing between the switch point and the stock rail, which would otherwise prevent the switch from closing fully and cause a derailment or signal failure.
Heard on the job
Dispatch, the point heater at the north end of the siding is out and the switch is packed with snow.
Also heard as
- switch heater