C&O's final wooden signal tower design, The

In the Archives' collection is C&O Standard drawing No. S-264, which is reproduced on the overleaf in much reduced size. The drawing is available from the C&OHS in 1/4-inch =1-foot scale for $5.00 + $3.00 SM.

This design replaced the much more ornate and complicated drawing S-2 for the standard C&O rectangular tower (cabin), that had been in service since about 1900. The former tower is probably the most common C&O structure, since it was built at so many locations in the era of great expansion and development (19001920).

By the time that the the new S-264 standard was prepared in March 1923, there were few places that a new tower was needed. Two locations where this standard was used were WS Cabin at White Sulphur Springs, W. Va., and JD Cabin at the east end of the Clifton Forge yard. We believe that JD Cabin had been destroyed by fire, requiring a replacement, and possibly the same fate befell WS Cabin. If readers are aware of other locations, we would be interested to know about them.

The structure itself is a stark contrast to the earlier design, with very simple lines, ordinary weatherboarding, a plain overhanging hipped roof, and standard size windows. Like its predecessor, it had no bay window. You will notice on the drawing that the old color scheme is shown with the basic structure painted "Colonial Buff" which was what we know today as "yellow," with the trim in "Terra Cotta." In actual practice of course, the structure was of a gray body with dark gray trim. The standard was changed just months after S-264 was drawn.

Shortly after this drawing was done and the two or three structures patterned after it were built, C&O changed its approach to new tower construction, and new structures were of the red brick design with protruding bay window. These structures are very familiar to modern-day C&O fans and modelers, since they lasted a long time into this century, and some survive today.

This drawing, however, provides an interesting, simple, standard design that would fit any model layout for almost any railroad. And, it is prototypically C&O. Not only was it a C&O standard, but we know of at least two structures that were built according to it.

Showcase Models has recently released an N-scale laser-cut kit that uses this drawing as its basis. The result is a very accurate C&O standard building. Please see the flyer in this issue on how to order this kit from the C&OHS. We hope that it will be made eventually in HO.

Photos and data on these structures would be welcome to add to the C&OHS archives collection. Please send us any information you have.

Copyright Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society, Inc. Oct 1999
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