Forced perspective tower

[tomikawaTT]

The 'real' tower sounds like an interesting idea, but only if you operate with a crew big enough to have an engineer for each train.  The towerfolks are going to be busy enough without having to control locomotives, too.  Then there is the little matter of space - unless your layout is in a barn, warehouse or commercial aircraft hangar.

The 'TV screen' idea sounds too much like a NASA mission control setup.  I think there would be too much of a disconnect between it and the real railroad.

Just my .  Others are sure to disagree.

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[fifedog]

I've seen this done before, and it's pretty cool.  Works best in club type layouts, where during open houses, the operating session can go on without pedestrian noises.  If you can elevate it a couple feet, makes for a neat perspective over the layout.

[ndbprr]

Another item I need some input on beside my idea of clear buildings is a forced perspective tower for the North Philadelphia towermen.  This was a two man tower and very busy.  I am considering putting up side and front walls and roof over a small table say 18 x48".  The I make the windows so the view of the railroad would be the same as from the real tower.  One man would take and write orders and the other would operate the interlocking machine under his instructions.  It would be moved aside after operating sessions.  An alternate idea I have considered is mounting a couple of the small video cameras in the actual model tower facing east and west and letting them view the railroad on monitors. Do these ideas seem practical?