Interiors of Interlock Towers

[CPPedler]

Hello everyone,

Living in the U.K. as I do, over the years I have come to learn what the inside of our signal boxes look like and rarely do you find two alike most are similar but not the same. almost without exception you would find a lever frame for signals, points and point locks plus the bell and tapping gear for the telegraph equipment and a host of other paraphanalia.

But what would I find in an interlocking tower in Canada,???   Lots of photos of the outside of these but not found any of the inside of a tower, just need the idea of what layout would be. Nothing specific just tippicule.

If any one could give me some idea I would be grateful.

Kind regards Colin    Cambridge     U.K. 

 

[retsignalmtr]

Interlocking towers in Canada and the US have similar interiors as well as similar exteriors. A row of Armstrong levers, a GRS or US&S electro- mechanical interlocking machine, a model board, desks and chairs, lockers, flagging equipment, telephone and radio equipment,  an annunciator bell to announce approaching trains, a poybelly stove, bulliten boards, maybe a refridgerator, Plus good visibilityof the track.

[zstripe]

Colin,

How about some pic's and images, of the interior:

https://www.google.com/search?q=Railroad+Interlocking+Tower+Interior+Images&client=firefox-a&hs=LwU&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&channel=fflb&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=2UokU6GzNsSEygG0noDABQ&ved=0CCkQsAQ&biw=1024&bih=649

Enjoy!

Frank

[tstage]

Colin,

Here's some pics from a couple of towers in my neck of the woods:

Grafton Tower (NYC) - Grafton, OH

AC Tower (NYC/PRR/Erie) - Marion, OH

[G Paine]

Peco is coming out with a non-operating set of external rods and locks for an interlocking system

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/552-SS89

with an extension set
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/552-SS90

The only thing is to be sure of clearances between the parts on teh track and anything that hangs low like plows and Kadee actuating pins

[dknelson]

Can't speak for Canada but I did get to visit St Francis Tower on the Chicago & North Western near Milwaukee WI a number of times in the late 1960s-70s.  Everything was old -- desk, chairs, levers, track board. The prevailing color was gray but  not gray paint, just gray.   Floor very worn.  Poorly lit except over the desk.  An old megaphone (!) hung on the wall, as did a bunch of hoops for train orders.  All manner of old announcements had been framed and stuck on the walls here and there.  Generations of operators had also pinned old snapshots of trains and work colleagues that were here and there on the walls. 

The main interest was the desk perhaps because it was the best lit.  Spaces for blank forms, telephone on an accordian like holder, typewriter.    The windows were grimy, and some had repaired holes (with cloth stuck in the hole and tape holding the cracks together. 

Dave Nelson

[CPPedler]

I would just like to thank everyone who contributed to this thread, particularly Frank and tstage for the photos it is surpriseing how much of the interiors are familiar. The model that I have is nothing more than a second hand Walthers offering from some years past . It had been built but not painted and was in need of some TLC so I fixed some of the less secure joints and painted it in CP colours, a mid brown for the Clapboard and tuscan framework with white window frames it's not looking too bad but I need to put in some lights and of course some detail. I probably have most of what I need for the inside including a 13 lever laser cut lever frame. Not sure how to finish the outside of the roof , whether to leave it with plastic as is or to cover it with shingles????

Anyhow thanks once again,

Kind regards  Colin     Cambridge      U.K   

[tstage]

Colin,

Glad the pics were helpful.  Here's the desk - opposite the door and to the right of the strong arm handles - of the Grafton Tower:

They weren't fancy - that's for sure.

Tom

[rdgk1se3019]

here is the inside of my switch tower.......