i have  l/h  and r/h  switches, one routes the power one does not . they look quite different . i spoke to my hobby shop man and his answer was the one that switches is older stock , same part number  a little bit confusing       

thanks joe that is much clearer    looking at the other posts re switches i have one l/h that looks entirely
different from the other r/hand i spoke to my local hobby shop man and his answer was that the one switch that does route the power is older stock, same part  number .

I have two N gauge switches one left one right   one turns the power of  the other one does not any suggestions.

Also are the couplings inter changable . I am new to the hobby   and the  couplings on the  locos and some rolling stock are quite different    although  they all Bachmann