That brake dead man switch was replaced with one they have mounted on the top of the locomotives control panel nowadays. A long time engineer friend of mine said that many operators used to put a heavy break shoe on that switch. I don't know if it lead to any accidents as there is usually more than one person in the cab?
A number of my friends use the foot pedal switch but I don't know if I would like it?
I think the hand operated SW is faster for break in? What was the question