Davis Tower (DT)
- Description: Tower DT oversees (Davis Classification Yard) and DAS (Davis Passenger Station). This area also contains locomotive service facilities. Track numbers within the yard (1-9) are the same as their block numbers.
- Controls: DAV (Davis Classification Yard), DAS (Davis Passenger Station)
- Block authority: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9
- Staffed: 24 hours
Glen Cove Tower (GT)
- Description: Glen Cove Tower (GT) is the busiest tower on the layout, as every train passes by it. It serves the junction of the "high line" mainline up to Cascade and Pamola, and the "low line" serving Glen Cove, Cape Ann and Davis.
To add to the chaos, KFF (Kenton Freight Forwarders), the busiest customer on the layout, is served by a spur here shared with BOL (Bolton Shops); so traffic is constant here.
- Controls: operations between KEN (Kenton Yard) and Glen Cove, including BOL (Bolton Shops).
- Block authority: 16, 22, 23, 25
- Staffed: 24 hours
Tower KT Kenton Tower
- Description: Kenton Tower (KT) oversees KEN (Kenton Yard), where tracks are not designated, their use is at the discretion of the tower and conductor. One yard track is shared by KEL (Kenton Electric). KES (Kenton Passenger Station) is the only stop for the Amtrak Downeaster on the layout, and Cape Ann's passenger traffic transfers at Kenton for points served by Amtrak.
- Controls: KEN (Kenton Yard) and KES (Kenton Passenger Station)
- Block authority: 13, 14, 15
- Staffed: 24 hours
Tower MT Marias Tower
- Description: Tiny no-frills Marias Tower (MT) is smack in the middle of Marias Industrial Park, which can be a switching nightmare. If you are familiar with John Allen's Timesaver switching puzzle, Marias Industrial Park is a simplified version of it. One lead in, with a mishmash of facing-point, trailing-point, and shared spurs to negotiate. Train crews can figure out switching moves on their own, the tower operator's primary function is to advise when they have cleared the fouling points of the switches, and watch for potential interference from vehicle and worker traffic.
- Controls: Marias Industrial Park
- Block authority: 24
- Staffed: 7 AM - 5 PM only, as no switching activity occurs outside those hours.
Pamola Tower (PT)
- Description: Remote Pamola Tower (PT) controls track from CPS (Cascade Passenger Shelter to NPO (North Portal Interchange), including PAM (Pamola siding), an interchange staging point. Tower handles interchange from northern connecting roads CP, MEC, BAR, SEA, ROCK. Tower equipped with train order signals.
- Controls: NPO (North Portal Interchange) and PAM (Pamola siding)
- Block authority: 17, 18, 19, 20, 21
- Staffed: 24 hours
Quinn Tower (QT)
- Description: Quinn Tower (QT) controls rail, truck, and transload operations at QUI (Quinn Intermodal Facility). Quinn Tower and adjacent Davis Tower (DT) straddle the junction between blocks 8 and 7, and all traffic crossing that junction is only by mutual agreement.
- Controls: QUI
- Block authority: 8
- Staffed: 24 hours
Sanford Tower (ST)
- Description: Located at the end of the scenic'd portion of the layout, Sanford Tower (ST) handles interchange operations between Cape Ann and southern connecting roads B&M and Conrail. Sanford Tower is sometimes - incorrectly - referred to as "South Tower", as it controls the south interchange tracks. Emma the Stegosaurus, Organic Switcher #13, sits perched on a shipping container. She is a tribute to John Allen - her job is to inspect incoming interchange for hot boxes.
- Controls: SPO (South Portal Interchange).
- Block authority: 10, 11, 12
- Staffed: 24 hours
Home • Revised Dec 5 2018
