Railroad tool?

From: bartelsr@iowatelecom.net

I was told that this was a railroad key of some sort. Can you identify the tool shown in the attached picture and give me some details about it?

—Rich Bartels

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Note: CLICK HERE to see the second photo referred to in a comment below which shows "the control stand on a completely rebuilt SW1000 that was sitting outside the old EJ&E Car Shops in Joliet, IL. ... Photo by Neal 12/01" from the DPD Productions website's Railroad Gallery.