Hi,i´m Christian,
can someone give some pictures of NYC signal tower(on that place was swiches turnouts) and sugestions for HO models?
Thanks!
Christian,
There are several good pictures of a Big Four interlocking tower in the Summer issue of Classic Trains, including one on the front cover. The Big Four (CCCStL) towers were the ones up on stilts. They had a metal framework under the structure. Those were only located in a few of the western states of the NYC system. If you look in the Classic Trains area of this web sight you can probably find pictures.
As for modeling, I took a Walthers interlocking tower, cut the top off with a razor saw and fabricated the steel structure with plastruct. The steel superstructure appears to be different on different towers, perhaps constructed of what was available. You can see all the interlocking parts, water pipes, sewer lines etc under the tower, so approriate infrastructure under there is important also. The stairs were just like any other tower, so you could use the kit stairs if you make the tower the same height as the original parts cut off the tower. I detailed the interior with a biffy, desk, chair interlocking levers and model board, lit it and included signals on the exterior to indicate to the train that there were flimsies (orders) to be picked up. Those are controlled by a switch on the facia of the layout. It looks swell, and since my layout is set between Dayton and Springfield Ohio it is approriate. I did not model it after any paticular prototype, but it is a generic Big Four interlocking tower.
Paul
Dayton and Mad River RR
Upon looking at this web site I would assume that I told you the wrong magazine. I am at work, but my next guess is the magazine is Railroad and Railfan. In any case it is a magazine from the mainstream railroad press that has pictures of the Big Four interlocking tower. It is in an article about Erie Lakawana in Ohio.
Paul
Dayton and Mad River RR
Christian,NYC was a complicated railroad with many different tower designs.
Go to http://www.rr-fallenflags.org/nyc/nyc.html and scan down the page and you will find photos of towers.