For all practical purpose, this switch has lots in common with its North American counterparts, especially those found on the ladder track of you average rural yard. The mechanism throws with a 30-degree flop-over lever, a lockable pedal keeps the switch lined, and a weight on the end of the lever helps smooth the action.

In contrast, the stand is attached to the track with a steel plate instead of an extended crosstie, the lever's motion is perpendicular to the rail instead of parallel (making a simpler mechanism), and there is absolutely no question about the target's meaning. If you see the arrow on the approach, you know the switch is lined for diverging.

Judging by the condition of the diverging rails, it appears this switch has not been thrown in a long time. Also curious is the bent bridle rod, which would suggest that a crew once ran through this switch, and it never got properly repaired. In the background, one can see a rusty red flag, denoting that the diverging track is out of service. Perhaps it was cheaper just to knock this extra stretch of siding out of service than to repair the switch properly. This siding serves a cement plant in Leimen, the first suburb south of Heidelberg, and it's not electrified.