JR West Kisuki Line - grade indicator for a switchback

[miyakoji]

Here's an interesting picture I'd just seen on Ompuchaneru, and then its mirror-image appears in a nimo5 video!

 

Here's the video, check it out at 8:16:

 

 

I was hoping one of the forum's train crew members could comment.  This looks like it does because of the switchback, right?  I believe the video is at Izumo-Sakane Station, and the train is shown ascending, so shouldn't the pieces with numbers point up?

 

Ompuchaneru thread with a few other Kisuki Line images: http://rail-uploader.khz-net.com/index.php?id=1028024

[bikkuri bahn]

miyakoji, I think those are snow depth indicators (Izumo is in a heavy snow region), the numbers are way too high for permil, also the post style is different from the standard, and the indicator shown in the video is too close to the track, though the track does seem to be out of service.

 

standard style:

http://pics.livedoor.com/u/rootan2007/2359385

[westfalen]

I agree with bikkuri bahn's theory, the sign is obviously measuring from the ground up to 1.4 metres in 20cm increments.

[miyakoji]

aaaahh