101 level question- what is the difference in purpose between the control and switch towers? what are the prototypical placements of each? does one switch justify a switch tower? or would there be some threshold # of switches required to justify building a tower? so how's a control tower different and where would it be placed in a yard?
Thanks
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Anyone have insight to offer?
I don’t know about insight, but I can offer some guesses.
The terms control tower, switch tower and interlocking tower can mean the same thing. A switch tower controls switches (which can be interlocked) so that could be called a switch, interlocking or control tower. A signal tower controls signal lights (which can be interlocked) so that could be called a signal, interlocking or control tower. I would think most interlocking towers control both switches and lights. A gate tower or crossing tower controls a crossing gate so I guess you could call that a control tower too. Does one switch justify a tower? Why not…if one crossing can justify a gate tower.
guesses are welcome!
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