Where the Pearce Branch heads off the main, I need a switch tower. I found this one, and I like the proportions.
This one will be all styrene and PVC core board. With all the windows, Ill have to have some interior details, too.
Neat tower
That’s a really cool tower. I wonder what the bell was for? I’ve never seen one on a switch tower before.
That is a nice looking tower. The bell is to scare the rooster away.
Progress so far.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/buildings/switchmantower/IMGP8243.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/buildings/switchmantower/IMGP8244.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/buildings/switchmantower/IMGP8245.JPG)
I made the vertical column a little beefier than the prototype. It was a little wobbly for an outside building. Next up are the windows and all the trim, then the roof. The roof should be interesting, its a neat bunch of shapes.
Nice work. Who’s railroad has the prototype?
No clue. I stumbled across that one while I was looking for a decent freight shed to build! Sidetracked that project for a short while. 
That is really a “Railroad crossing, attendant’s tower”…the bell was rung just before the attendant lowered the gates.
This style of crossing attendant’s shack, was to give the attendant better visability of the track, so he could better judge when to lower the crossing gates.
The model that Bob is using as a “Model” has that boarded square “Tube” under it’s centre. That was not the main support; it actually was closed in to protect the rodding that was hooked to a lever in the “Office” part of the tower, that raised and lowered the gates. Later most of the towers that survived in service, used electric motors to control the gates.
I thought the bell was to signal when dinner was ready.
Fred got me curious so I did some googling… here’s a nifty little crossing tower in Utica, NY:
(http://www.indarch.mtu.edu/data/1/2/4-23.jpg)
(BTW, can anyone tell me the purpose of those little “doghouse” type boxes on either side of the RR crossing sign?) And here’s a link to the tower kit that Bob is using as a guide, including some interior pics: http://www.bronx-terminal.com/?cat=23 It was based on a CN prototype in London, Ontario. There’s a good photo of the prototype on the Railroad Line Forum: http://www.railroad-line.com/discussion/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=29553 And here’s another pic of the same prototype, from a different angle:
(http://www.gingerb.com/CNJ%20Ashley%20Main%20Street%20Crossing%20Tower.jpg)
Great find on the prototype, Ray. I didn’t know that Tim Warris was the one responsible for the kit. Nice guy, talked to him at the Springfield show a couple of years ago. Loved his original layout, and his Bronx Terminal is incredible.
Thanks Fred and Ray for the education. A very interesting prototype.
Bob - the model is looking good. I look forward to seeing it in person
Ray: Missed your question. I would guess those two boxes are tool boxes
Tim says he’s got the build time down to 4 hours…wow.
Bob, good proto choice…it’s looking great!
cale
Those “Doghouse” type boxes, in that view, probably were used for sand, or during the steam age, ashes, the sand or ashes were used on the road crossing and any walkways on company property to prevent falling on ice, during the Winter months.
On the model and prototype that Bob is following; the storage boxes were “Sand boxes”.
Thanks for the info, Fred!
Here’s the latest. Did some surgery on what I had built so far.
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/buildings/switchmantower/IMGP8253.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/buildings/switchmantower/IMGP8254.JPG)
(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/bob_mccown/buildings/switchmantower/IMGP8255.JPG)
Looking good Bob