Alan,

 

I always look forward to your projects and this one is no exception! That's a very interesting yard tower. Terry

Alan,

Any idea where in PA? It looks familiar, although there were probably many of these built to the same specs along the lines.

Don

Almost certainly Ashley Tower, near Wilkes-Barre.

 

 

I walked past it every day on the way to school. It is on my list to build someday. It was right across the street from this Gateman Shanty that I modeled a few years ago:

 

 

Pete,

That's why it looks familiar! I grew up in Wilkes-Barre, and now live in Ashley. The gateman shanty at High St and Hazle Ave. was a regular stop for me. The gateman would let us go up and pump down the gates when a train approached. 

Don

Alan

cant wait to see your progress on building the Ashley tower

brings back great memories

When I saw a picture of the Gateman Shanty, I figured I would build a model of it also. It looked pretty cool.

I am building the Ashley tower. I tried to get more pictures of the road side of it but could not. With the one story extension and all the steps and handrails, it makes for an interesting structure.

The customer would like this constructed as it looked when it was new.

It is going to be a lot of fun building this tower.

 

Alan Graziano

There was smaller tower of similar era and design at Franklin Junction in Buttonwood:

 

 

Chuck Davis modeled it over at Railroad Lines Forum:

 

RR Line

 

Scroll down about half way.

Go Al. 

 

Watching with interest.

 

Cheers

My god Alan - Evergreen????????

If Darlene ever sees this you may be excommunicated from Plastruct!

Joe,

I promote Plastruct as much as I can. Styrene is Evergreens bag and they are very good at producing it.

I have figured out the windows and scaled out the switch tower. I actually added two scale feet to the main tower portion increasing from 16 to 18 feet. The pictures show the windows selected and how they are modified to look like what is on the building. I will use angle shapes to create the concrete window sills.

I almost got to the point of making my own windows but after a couple of hours of configuring stock Grand Line windows, I came up with something acceptable to me.

Now I can start building.

 

Alan Graziano

Thanks for taking on this custom-build project for me, Alan, and thanks for sharing your progress photos and commentary, too.  I'm really looking forward to the finished product!

For those who have asked about the prototype...yes, it is the Jersey Central's (CNJ) yard tower at Ashley, PA.  I grew up very near the Ashley yards and saw this tower almost daily.  Even more meaningful to me, however, is that Ashley was the home base of operations for my grandfather, an engineer on the CNJ.  He passed away when I was only two years old, so my only memories of him have been formed through photographs and stories.

I intend to model some form of the CNJ Ashley Yards on my future layout, and this yard tower--along with a custom-built Ashley coaling tower that Alex M. and Alan G. collaborated on a couple years ago--will be main focal points.

Keep us posted, Alan!  Oh, and while we're at it, if Avanti (Pete) or Alan would like to build the elevated watchman's crossing shanty for me, let's talk!!

Here are some updated pictures of my progress.

Joe,

I can build the other tower for you. It looks like a very interesting structure.

 

Alan Graziano

Go for it Alan. I had a lot of fun building mine, but it would take forever for me to get around to doing another. 

 

As far as I know, that one picture is the only one in existence--you will discover a lot of ambiguities when you get into it. I ended up with a lot of educated guesses.  Here are some more pictures of my interpretation:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Check out the detail in every Korber building Alan Graziano built. Each building has it's own sidewalk with trees added and also lighted so they would match up next to each other. I had no idea except for the picture on the box what the finale building would look like until it was finished. Take a look at the scratch built water towers next to the giant Korber power plant with the steps going up the side that is a one of a kind. These buildings are so special no two are the same they are not some plastic or cheap wood building that 1000's were made for $99.00 and you can buy them off the shelf at a Home-improvment store and everyone has the same building on their layout nothing original, thanks again Alan your buildings will forever be cherished and enjoyed. I love when people see my buildings and ask where can I buy the same building as that one. Click onto the link to see more structures Alan and Joe Fauty built, way to many to list here. Joe Fauty the Korber Modular building was the best ever came out great thanks so much to you and Rich from Korber Models and I can't forget Alex M unbelievable looking buildings he creates and now he is building for Peco, Korber and Ameritown >>>Watch out for some of the greatest looking buildings to ever come out. O-gauge buildings you can't buy off the shelf at a store.<<<    https://ogrforum.com/t...13#37470280250324713

Avanti,

You did a great job on the watchmans shanty.

Joe,

Thank you for the compliment and I had a pleasure building some of these models for you.

 

Alan Graziano

 

Joe:

Thanks for the compliment. To be listed along side Alan is an honor.

Joe

 

Alan:

With respect to the picture below - was it a kit or scratch built. I see you your signature all over it! I have to build one of these for my layout.

 

Joe,

That is a kit that was put out by Lionel about ten years ago. I do not know if you can buy them anymore other than as left over stock.

Thanks Joe,

 

Alan

Great work guys! Allan , what Lionel building was it ?
I'd like to look for one .
Mike

Mike,

 I cannot remember the name of it. I am sure one of the forum members will come up with it. I used my own roll up doors. I think the doors with the kit were a simulated wood style.

I think it is a fantastic kit for kitbashing.

I bought many of the municipal / sub station buildings and kitbashed them also.

 

Alan Graziano

Thanks Allen . Beautiful work you can make out of any kit!
Mike

Found it

 

You can see the changes Alan made to it.

Lionel 6-12905 Factory Building Kit

 

 

Thanks Joe. It's amazing what can be done with simple plastic kits by craftsmen like Allen , yourself and others!
Mike

What great looking buildings. My buildings are still in the set up stage and if you would like to see them let me know and I will post them here. 

Dan:

Pictures are always welcome! That is how I plagiarize - I mean get ideas for new product.

Joe

Mike,

For a while Lionel came out with some great buildings. I wish I bought a few cases of each of them. You can still find them around. I like the fact they are made of styrene and are easy to cut and glue. I replaced the one I did with a corrugated roof using Evergreen Styrene.

I added the tank because that is what I do.

Alan

I made some more progress. I completed the stairway less the kneee braces. I guessed at the color. I completed the concrete work. I will now have to wash the concrete with some floquil to get a more sandy concrete look. I will start on the tower window frames next.

 

Alan Graziano

Alan

 

It looks great, nice job 

 

 

Thanks for continuing to post your progress photos, Alan.  I'm so glad I finally asked you to build this tower for me!!

I am getting close on this.

I have to glue the roofs in place, construct the tower windows, add some lights, install handrails on stairs and install a couple of knee braces under the stairway platform. I should finish it tomorrow morning.

 

Alan Graziano

Great looking photos looks like you are moving along. 

Alan,

 

Another masterpiece!!!!   looks beautiful

 

Thanks,

Alex

Here are the final construction pictures and the completed model.

 

Alan Graziano

great job! Thanks for the pics.

Great looking model you did a great job on it. 

Outstanding Alan! I may just have to make the drive north to visit Joe and see it in person. I be able to coordinate this with the Big E show in February, if the weather cooperates. 

Don

Really NICE job. Structures like this set a layout apart as they are unique. I'm sure Joe will be one happy customer.

Excellent, Alan. 

Fantastic looking model Alan! And from pictures!!! Feels like you got this done in record time as well. Great work!   Terry

Alan, I may have missed it... what are you using for the brick surface?