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Decided instead of purchasing a generic switch tower to make my own, modeled after the Essay tower on the NY&LB.

essay2NJunknown

Fortunately, I was able to come across scale drawings of the original (actually from the proposed construction, there are slight difference between them and the "as-built", but the proportions are correct).

Since I'm working with a resin printer, the walls and roof prove too large to print without piecing them together, so they're going to be styrene, with cutouts for the doors and windows. The doors, window frames, gutters, downspouts and chimney top will all be printed. The top two floors will be made separately from the cellar level, since I don't yet have a layout where it will reside, and the cellar may need to change depending on if it's set on a hill, or has a hill built around it.

So far, the windows were designed, printed, primed and painted...

20210717_155812

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Last edited by Magicland
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Wasn't happy with the length of the piece under the bay windows, so I replaced that. Also noticed that they added a 2nd window to the first floor on the side facing the Raritan which isn't on the drawings, so I added that. Placement of the first is a bit off, but it was either that or re-do the entire side of the building. I have the 2nd floor lighted, but apparently I need to put something in there to prevent the light from shining through the roof... You can see the (3d printed) railing around the stairwell, and the bathroom wall on the inside. Still need to add the copper gutters and fill the cracks, but it's coming along nicely. Don't suppose anyone has any pics showing what the inside looked like?

20210909_192124

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Slight update. Have the gutters (and chimney) on, stopped the light from leaking through the roof. The gutters were a pain, since I needed to piece them together as I can't print them long enough for the entire length of the roof, and the corners are separate pieces.

There are (3d printed) lockers on the rear wall of the 2nd floor, as per the proposed plans. Still need to find out what sort of interlocking machine was in here. Since there's a "relay room" on the 1st floor, I'm assuming it'll be without mechanical levers, but I want to confirm that.

Have a chair printed to go at the desk in the bay window, and a clock for the wall. I have the rain downspouts added on the sides since this pic was taken, but I still need to connect them to the gutters. Also need to add "copper" flashing to the chimney top. This week will likely be spent filling, sanding and painting the slight gaps between panels.

20210911_215816

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Working on the interior. 3D Printed a file cabinet, radio and microphone, and printed out several train orders (unfortunately not legible at scale) and a couple of pin-up calendars to go with the phone and the chair. Once I figure out what interlocking machine was in there, that'll be added too, and it should be done (except for the cellar level). There is a large relay rack in the relay room on the 1st floor, and a hallway from the door to both the 2nd floor, cellar, and relay room. An ashtray would really finish it off...

20210919_224309

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While it's not allowed these days, it wasn't uncommon to find a railroad employee or two back in the day having a drink or two. To facilitate this bit of historical accuracy, I'm made the world's smallest can of Schaeffer beer (Shaeffer's brewery in Newark was served by the CNJ).

20210922_161007

Note the holes in the top from the churchkey, and the seam in the side of the steel can. It's conveniently located on the desk, in front of the phone and Motorola radio... I should probably mention that the beer can isn't 3D printed, it's simply a small dowel with a printed label glued on. I tried printing one, but at a scale 1/8" high, it wasn't happening. It's also probably about the scale size of a Fosters can rather than a regular beer can.

20210922_185735

Working on the interlocking machine tonight (US&S Model 14, with 23 positions), hopefully will have the entire tower finished (except for the cellar) by the weekend!

2021-09-22

I could add more detail, but this should be fine for my purposes. Printed out the panel with the levers and indicators, doing the main body tomorrow.

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Last edited by Magicland

The original Korber Models Company (owned by the late Ernie Korber) located in Perth Amboy, NJ made accurate O gauge models of CNJ ( and NY&LB) brick interlocking towers. This type of tower had ep/Electro Pneumatic switch machines inside...so your model interior is correct.

KORBER 926KORBER tower 927KORBER 928

The wooden construction towers on the CNJ/NY&LB such as Red Bank, Matawan, Sea Girt all used Armstrong levers.

Going to college in the late 1960's, I worked as a CNJ Towerman, qualified on all CNJ towers from PS/Phillips Street in Jersey City, NJ to PU/Phillipsburg in Phillipsburg, NJ and Branches.

PS-Phillips Street, Jersey City - brick construction

HY- Van Nostrand Ave,, Jersey City - brick construction

BV-Bayonne, NJ - brick construction

BD-Bay Draw Bridge - brick construction

FH-Singers Elizabethport, NJ - brick construction

RU-Elizabethport, NJ - brick construction

GW-Spring Street Elizabeth, NJ - wood construction

XC-Cranford Jct Cranford, NJ - brick construction

QUEEN-Plainfield, NJ - brick construction

RK-Bound Brook Jct., Bound Brook, NJ - wood construction

RA-Raritan, NJ - brick construction

WEST END-Hampton, NJ wood construction

PU-Phillipsburg, NJ - brick construction

CY - Oak Island, Newark, NJ - brick construction

PD - Passaic Draw, Kearny, NJ on a bridge - wood construction

WY - Bayway, Elizabethport, NJ - brick construction

WC - Woodbridge Jct., Woodbridge, NJ - brick construction

Enjoy the photos. Historical RR photos I was able to save (before they were thrown out as garbage) from CRR-NJ Publicity Dept. when Jersey City offices closed in 1967...some I photographed and all now in my collection.

Walter

Photos left to right:

SA - SOUTH AMBOY                         BD - BAY DRAW

09c4_2112251pv

CY-Oak Island                                                                                 PD-Port Reading

ac3f_1 CNJ #1513 April, 1966 CY towerCNJ PD Tower

In Pennsylvania ?                                                                           WO - Barber Sewaren, NJ

CNJ wilkes-barre, pa 1946WO tower - Barber, NJ 1960's

CNJ 29018

CNJ 23309 2CNJ 29019CNJ 36410

FH Singers Elizabethport, NJ

CNJ FH TOWER

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  • KORBER 926
  • KORBER tower 927
  • KORBER 928
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  • ac3f_1 CNJ #1513 April, 1966 CY tower
  • CNJ PD Tower
  • CNJ wilkes-barre, pa 1946
  • WO tower - Barber, NJ 1960's
  • CNJ 29018
  • CNJ 23309 2
  • CNJ 29019
  • CNJ 29019
  • CNJ 36410
  • CNJ FH TOWER
Last edited by Walter Matuch

The original Korber Models Company (owned by the late Ernie Korber) located in Perth Amboy, NJ made accurate O gauge models of CNJ ( and NY&LB) brick interlocking towers. This type of tower had ep/Electro Pneumatic switch machines inside...so your model interior is correct.

The wooden construction towers on the CNJ/NY&LB such as Red Bank, Matawan, Sea Girt all used Armstrong levers.

Going to college in the late 1960's, I worked as a CNJ Towerman, qualified on all CNJ towers from PS/Phillips Street in Jersey City, NJ to PU/Phillipsburg in Phillipsburg, NJ and Branches.

Walter, thanks for the valuable info and great pictures! Didn't know about those Korber kits, it appears some are still available on that large auction site and at a few hobby stores.

@Pennsylover posted:

Magicland, what are you using for your 3D software?  It appears to be working very well for you, so I'm curious. I've tried several packages, and nothing has really clicked for me yet - they all seem to be either too simple or too complicated.

Dale

I use 3DStudio max. Probably overkill for the stuff I'm currently doing, but I've been using it for years, since I used to design 3D trains and other items for the "Trainz" computer rail simulator.

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