The Interlocking Tower like the one in the picture, what is it used for?
What HO kits do you suggest if I model D&RGW around 1940, 50, 60?
Interlocking towers were generally used to control turnouts at important junctions or cross-overs, and often in large yards where several lines interconnect and diverge. As to the Rio Grande, that tower you have is just fine, I’d just re-paint it yellow with brown trim.
Tom [:D]
That tower control the movement of trains into and out of the yard…
That Tower looks like the one Revell/Concor/Helgan produced.
Sorry,I know very little about the Rio Grande…I suggest looking for one of the many Rio Grande web sites.[;)]
Good answers as always, thanks guys. I learned something new today…
Don’t confuse an interlocking tower with a yard tower – they had totally different purposes. A yard tower controlled movement within a yard occupied by a single railroad, such as the yard tower in downtown Tucson, Arizona, which controls movements into and out of the Union Pacific’s yard.
An interlocking tower was located where two or more different rail lines crossed or interchanged traffic with each other. The tower operator controlled the movement of trains through the crossover diamond(s) by setting the signals and/or turnouts.
The term interlocking derives from the fact that the levers in the tower were arranged in such a manner that only one train could be allowed to move at any one time, and when a train was given a highball signal, all other tracks were automatically locked out.
Interlocking towers have been replaced with computer-controlled signals and turnouts that are under the direction of dispatch centers hundreds, or even thousands, of miles away.
What’s the difference then between the locking and yard tower when it comes to the building? Is there any difference at all?
No, the tower you have could be used either as a yard tower or interlocking tower.
For a yard tower, it would be located near the center of the yard so tower operators could see the entire yard.
For interlocking, it would be in one corner of the area where the lines cross, so the tower operator could see all train movements through the interlocking.
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Cacole:
Ok, I understand. Thanks for the great answer.
Interlocking towers are like “red lights” for trains. The levers that control the derails, switches, home signals, and distance signals are “interlocked” so that it is impossible for the operator/s to clear two conflicting routes at the same time.
You would them at such locations as at grade crossing between railroad lines, junctions, and draw bridges.
Have fun
cacole says:Don’t confuse an interlocking tower with a yard tower – they had totally different purposes. A yard tower controlled movement within a yard occupied by a single railroad, such as the yard tower in downtown Tucson, Arizona, which controls movements into and out of the Union Pacific’s yard.
Sorry to have to disagree…A interlocking tower could and did control the inbound and outbound switches and the trains entering or leaving the yard.A yard tower control movement within the yard…You see one man in the tower controling the inbound/outbound movements beats the need for several switchtenders doing the same job…[:D]
Another use for interlocking towers was on multiple track line (the Pennsylvania leaps instantly to mind) where towers were located every few miles to control a number of cross-overs enabling a fast train to run around a slower train without having to slow either train or issue train orders.
An interlocking tower controls an interlocking. An interlocking is a system of signals and switches arranged to permit movements in sequence. It can involve one railroad or more than one railroad. It can involve the entrance to a yard or be entirely out on the mainline. It can involve a crossing, a junction or an arrangement of crossovers.
Normally rule books, especially steam era books, had separate rules for interlockings.
A yard tower may or may not control switches. It normally houses yardmasters or hump operators, trainmasters and car department people. Unless it was a really small yard i wouldn’t think a two story yard tower would be in the middle of a yard, you really can’t see that much from that vantage point. Most 2 or 3 story yard towers I’ve seen are near the leads. If you use it as a yard tower a detail item could be a large (4" dia) pipe running from the tower to each switch shanty or the yard office. That’s a pnuematic tube system (like used in drive-up windows at banks now) used to send lists, waybills and an occaisional cat or pigeon to another building.
Dave H.