Fatman posted:@Don McErlean Nice pickup !
That unit is , I believe, actually a Whistle Station/Controller !!!
comes from the later plastic loco set "Battery Operated Figure 8 Train Set with Smoke Whistle and Trestle"
https://spur00.de/nomura Scroll down to the bottom
But in related Fatman news ... I also picked up another French Hornby carriage , this one from a 3-rail electric set as it has a pickup shoe fitted ( I think this is a factory kit option for lighting the carriages )
The train set you have pictured was marketed by both TN/Nomura and Rosko/ AHI and they used TN whistle station and power boxes in their sets (as did West German supplier Distler).
New Haven set
freight set w/ whistling station
TN made several other stations, watchman's towers and battery boxes used by all three suppliers.
Rosko tin set with orange station
TN orange tower often found with Distler sets. tn yellow tower
I believe TN also made this battery station house for Marx or Linemar.