Waldwick Erie Interlocking Tower

Waldwick Erie Interlocking Tower. . , The Tower was constructed by the New York Lake Erie and Western RR in a Queen Anne style. When the restoration was started the condition reflected the neglect of having been abandoned by its last operating owner in 1986. But, except for a few minor maintenance shortcuts the tower looked as it did when constructed in 1890. It had stucco on the lower panels replacing the original wood siding, and some modernization impacts like the addition of electrical feeds to meet upgrade needs in the early 20th century. It is an outstanding example of how an industrial building would reflect the architecture of the times , This is the sole remaining example of six towers built to this design. Originally there were three in New York and three in New Jersey. The two closest known examples in the area were in Ramsey, NJ and Suffern, NY both having been torn down; the Suffern tower in the 1990's to make room for a support for route 1-287. The other two known towers of this same style were located at Pompton Junction near Bloomingdale NJ and Great Notch near East Caldwell. , ( timeline ) , 1841 Paterson and Ramapo Railroad Company Chartered, First tracks appear in Waldwick a few years later , 1851 Union Railroad Company incorporated in NY, combines Paterson and Hudson and Paterson and Ramapo RR's , 1852 New York and Erie begins leasing of Paterson and Union RR. , 1854 12 stations and 31.8 miles of Only stations in Waldwick track between Jersey City and area are Ho-Ho-Kus and Suffern. Allendale at this time. , 1856 Act passed to allow the connection of the New Jersey railroads and Erie in the Suffern area. , 1863 Block signal use starts in NJ for the first time. , 1865 2nd mainline track placed on Erie through Waldwick , 1872 Patent for battery powered block signal is issued , 1878 New York and Erie RR reorganized as NY, Lake Erie and Western RR , 1880 Erie 460 Mile Trackage, 5.4 M passengers, 8.7 M tons freight , 1890 Erie 460 Mile Trackage, 11.1 M passengers, 16.2 M tons freight , 1890 WC Tower constructed - described as one of the largest and most outstanding in the area. , 1890 Construction begins of a yard for intermediate commuter trains, 50 men employed, large car yard, 4 stall engine house. Leave Paterson to avoid water tax. , 1894 Water reservoir is dug in the yard to collect water for the engines , 1898 Erie 460 Mile Trackage, 14.7 M passengers, 22.5 M tons freight , 1900 50,000 commuters to NY per day from New Jersey 40 lots on Franklin turnpike sold largely to railroad workers and commuters. , 1902 3rd mainline track placed on Erie , 1903 4th mainline track placed on Erie and engine servicing facility is removed because it is no longer needed , 1904 Electric interlocking machine replaces "strong arm" lever system. General Railway Signal Company Model 2. , 1908 Hudson and Manhattan Tubes opened to NYC , 1909 49 Westbound and 51 Eastbound passenger trains to or thru Waldwick every day , 1912 NJ Rapid Transit trolley comes to town and lasts until 1929 taking passengers from Paterson to Suffern 1920's downtown Waldwick booming with 10 businesses ranging from candy stores to department stores, an A&P and lumber yard , 1920 1920 census has population at 1296, yard has about 50 employees 1920's lots in Waldwick advertised in NY papers , 1929 Passenger Trains to or thru Waldwick 47 Westbound 50 Eastbound , 1941 Passenger Trains to or thru Waldwick 52 Westbound 50 Eastbound , 1946 Tower block diagram shows4 tracks, plus 2 parallel tracks from which siding etc are branched from. The feeder to the wye is not shown, no engine facility is indicated. , 1986 Tower closed by NJ Transit with tracks now controlled from central location , 1999 Tower acquired from private owner by Borough of , Waldwick with gift from local rail fan. , 2002 Gift in will of Robert Keeble provides key funds to start rehabilitation of tower , 2005 Exterior rehabilitation of tower is completed , 2013 Interior rehabilitation of tower is complete and creation of museum begins