How are track changes initiated?

I often wonder how track changes are initiated.

Is their some sort of steering wheel in the cab?

Can this be done remotely from a central command center?

the switches are changed from remote train despatch ceners . there is no way of changing them from the cab . in the case of manual switches the conductor must get out and throw the switch from ground level .

David Benton wrote:the switches are changed from remote train despatch ceners . there is no way of changing them from the cab . in the case of manual switches the conductor must get out and throw the switch from ground level .

On some railroads, there is a way to change a switch position from the
cab, it is done by the key pad on the radio. Florida East Coast has
switches of this nature at various locations.
There may be other railroads that also use switches that can be operated
from a radio key pad.
Noel Weaver

Not strictly railroad, but many streetcar lines used either electric sensors in the trolley line, or inductive sensors, to allow the motorperson to select tracks at an intersection where there was a switch.

NYC subways also have 'route selectors' at some stations, where the motorperson can hit a button for a route.

Other systems, the routing is done via computer, or, by a dispatcher at a control center. Some RRs still use towers at some interlockings, and the crews there will select routes as trains go by. These designs have systems that prevent trains from being routed incorrectly, or routings changed while trains are going over the switches, thus the term 'interlocking'. This could be mechanical, electric, or computerized

That is the way the Los Angeles LRV's work. The cab of the LRV positions itself over an inductor between the rails. A signal from an inductor on the underside of the LRV, activated by a switch in the cab, sends a signal to the crossover switches etc. and the switches are thrown. No towers or switchmen.

Noel Weaver wrote:

David Benton wrote:the switches are changed from remote train despatch ceners . there is no way of changing them from the cab . in the case of manual switches the conductor must get out and throw the switch from ground level .

On some railroads, there is a way to change a switch position from the
cab, it is done by the key pad on the radio. Florida East Coast has
switches of this nature at various locations.
There may be other railroads that also use switches that can be operated
from a radio key pad.
Noel Weaver

It's a very cool system. They can be controlled from any radio with a DTMF keypad, including portables. It has a "mini track circuit" system as well to prevent the switch from being thrown if there i a train on top of it.

I know of a couple drawbridges in the north east that also so equipped.