scope:

Introduction

This Track Work Instruction covers how to replace a switch heater pad or cartridge.

A switch heater pad fits under the baseplate within the 'moving' area of the switch rail.

A cartridge is used in switch heaters where holes are drilled into the jaw block of the slide chairs. Both are thermostatically controlled, electrically operated devices designed to ensure that the switch rails do not freeze to the baseplates.

Although these are pieces of electrical equipment, track work skills are required to undertake removal and insertion because the baseplates have to be lifted in the case of heating pads, or the jaw blocks removed in the case of cartridges.