Darrel, Doug & BRHSlisters,
I worked with American Model Builders to bring out "Wood Tower." Here is
the brief history I wrote for the instructions. This information comes
through much research and first-hand accounts from folks who worked the
tower.
"Wood Tower was located in Burlington, Iowa, at the terminus of the Chicago,
Burlington & Quincy?s St. Louis to Burlington ?K-Line? where it intersected
with the CB&Q?s busy Chicago to Denver Mainline. This junction, on the west
bank of the Mississippi River, was near the end of the 7-degree, 20.77
minute curve heading off of the massive, double-tracked draw bridge. The
tower operators controlled not only the K-Line junction, but their
thirty-nine electric-mechanical levers also controlled switches and signals
from Carthage Junction (later Illinois Junction) at the east end of the
bridge all the way to the Burlington Depot through the south end of the
Burlington yards. After installation of telegraph equipment in 1931, the
tower also issued train orders.
The tower was constructed in 1892, following a major rebuild of the railroad
facilities in Burlington. Its usefulness lasted through the 1950?s and was
razed in the later part of 1959. The ornate gable ends were unusual and the
winding stairs to the roofed upper landing, make this an interesting
structure to model.
Named after an early day conductor, Jack Woods, the two-story structure was
large, as interlocking towers go, with eight windows on its eastern, track
side. It?s exterior was painted the standard CB&Q mineral read, most likely
with the bronze green trim and interior was a light brown.
On an average, the railroad employed 5-6 men working 24 hours per day in
three shifts to work the tower. The tower had a small sink in the upper
level and a coal furnace in the lower level, providing heat in the winter
months."
Hope this helps!
Dave Lotz
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