crossing watch box/tower

NW Modeling List nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org
Sat Sep 20 11:34:34 EDT 2025


Mr Blackstock, here’s a couple to add to your list (from ROW maps HS-G00309 and HS-G00316, and period newspaper accounts):

Town	Milepost	Street	Notes
Circleville	N-675 +	Washington Street	Removed 1938 when Wig-wags were installed
Circleville	N-676 +	Mound Street 	Removed 1938 when Wig-wags were installed
Circleville	N-676 +	Main Street	Wig wags installed 1938, box remained in use until 1943 (last refuge for watchmen as they aged out)
Circleville	N-676 +	High Street 	Removed 1938 when Wig-wags were installed
Columbus	TBD	Broad Street	N/A


Carl Barna, I made a mistake in my other note. Ken supposes the gates were operated manually in the early days, then automated later. The watchboxes in Circleville were added in 1910-1911, late enough that it’s possible they were automated from the outset. This would seem to be a necessity given that invalids were often running these towers, but that (early automation) is speculation. The image I posted in the last message was one of those 1911 installations (Washington Street). 

Matt Goodman

> On Sep 19, 2025, at 10:06 AM, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> This is the potential towers from the valuations.  I keyed in on the building size of 7x7.   I have only seen two that I can recall.   One at the crossing at the East End of Roanoke shops and one at Commerce Street (RY Express Building).  Some perhaps are only sheds on the ground.  Other towers could have been built  after the early twenty's.
> 
> Jim Blackstock
> 
> Norfolk Yard	N-1+	Watch Box Lake Ave.	N-10-D	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Main line NGA	N-2+	Watch Tower	N-22	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Main line NGA	N-2+	Watch Tower	N-27	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Main line NGA	N-6+	Watch Box	N-61	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Suffolk, VA	N-23+	Watch Tower	N-231E	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Wakefield, VA	N-51+	Watch Tower	N-516	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Lamberts Pt. Branch	LP-1+	Watch Box	LP-13	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Lamberts Pt. Branch	LP-1+	Watch Box	LP-15	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Hopewell	8+	Watch Tower	PG-84A	Frame 1 story	7x7
> Roanoke Terminal, VA	R-0+	Watch Box	R-02	Frame	7x7
> Roanoke Terminal, VA	R-0+	Watch Box (High)	R-03	Frame	7x7
> Roanoke Terminal, VA	R-0+	Watch Box (High)	R-05	Frame	7x7
> Roanoke Terminal, VA	R-1+	Watch Box	R-14	Frame	7x7
> S. Roanoke Terminal, VA	R-2+	Watch Box	R-20A	Frame	7x7
> Christiansburg, VA	N-290+	Watch Tower	N-2902	Frame 1 Story	7x7
> Dublin, VA	N-308+	Watch Box	B-3087	Frame 1 Story	7x7
> Abingdon, VA	N-393+	Watchman Tower	B-3936C	Frame 1 Story	7x7
> Bristol, VA	N-408+	Watchman Tower	B-4083A	Frame 1 Story	7x7
> Ashville, OH	N-684+	Watch Tower	N-6841	Frame 1 Story Elevated	7x7
> Columbus, OH	N-701+	Watch Tower	N-7014	Frame 1 Story Elevated	7x7
> Columbus, OH	N-702+	Watch Tower	N-7021	Frame 1 Story Elevated	7x7
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Friday, September 19, 2025 at 07:22:34 AM EDT, NW Modeling List via NW-Modeling-List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> 
> There was one on the Tennessee side of State Street in Bristol.
> 
> Andre Jackson
> Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_Internal_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=Global_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100000604&af_sub5=EmailSignature__Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=9d3a686e-218d-4849-8298-b480188dc8ac&af_android_url=https%3A%2F%2Fplay.google.com%2Fstore%2Fapps%2Fdetails%3Fid%3Dcom.yahoo.mobile.client.android.mail%26listing%3Demail_signature>
> 
> On Thursday, September 18, 2025, 9:20 AM, NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> wrote:
> 
> I am looking for any/all information on N&W crossing watch boxes/towers.  From the archives I have the following on actual and proposed locations:
> proposed watch box tower & crossing gates, State Street, Bristol Va.
> Watch Box and Crossing gates Fleet Street
> Hyde Park Ohio
> Proposed crossing watch box tower for Boden Ferry Road X'ing, Norfolk Virginia
> Harrison St. Radford, VA
> Proposed location of watch tower at First Street (Comers Crossing), Hopewell, Va.
> Proposed Crossing Gates, Ashville , OH
> Proposed crossing gate and watch tower at West Ave. New Boston, OH
> I am particularly interested in photos of these structures, but any information on them will be appreciated.  I have been told that in some cases, after they were no longer used at crossings  , they were removed from their towers and placed at various locations for different uses.
> Thanks in advance,
> Jim Cochran
>  
> ________________________________________
> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org <mailto:NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org>
> To change your subscription go to
> https://pairlist6.pair.net/mailman/options/nw-modeling-list
> Browse the NW-Modeling-List archives at
> https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/
> ________________________________________
> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org <mailto:NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org>
> To change your subscription go to
> https://pairlist6.pair.net/mailman/options/nw-modeling-list
> Browse the NW-Modeling-List archives at
> https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/
> ________________________________________
> NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org
> To change your subscription go to
> https://pairlist6.pair.net/mailman/options/nw-modeling-list
> Browse the NW-Modeling-List archives at
> https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <https://pairlist6.pair.net/pipermail/nw-modeling-list/attachments/20250920/9a576eff/attachment-0001.htm>


More information about the NW-Modeling-List mailing list