Walthers Cornerstone HO Scale Elevated Crossing Tower Two-Pack Kit - 933-2945

Walthers Cornerstone HO Scale Elevated Crossing Tower Two-Pack Kit 933-2945 adds two distinctive railroad safety structures to busy HO scale street crossings. Based on the Milwaukee Road's two-story octagonal crossing towers, these detailed plastic structure kits recreate the elevated buildings used to monitor railroad movements and protect road traffic at heavily traveled grade crossings.

The prototype towers were located at each end of Milwaukee's historic Everett Street Station complex, with similar structures used at other railroad crossings. Their elevated design gave crossing attendants a better view of approaching trains and nearby streets.

This package includes parts for two complete elevated crossing towers, along with tool sheds and storage bins for detailing the surrounding railroad scene. Each completed tower measures 1-1/4 x 1-1/4 x 3 inches (3.2 x 3.2 x 7.6 cm).

Explore HO Scale Walthers Cornerstone buildings and structures for additional railroad facilities and scenery.

Elevated Crossing Tower Two-Pack Features and Dimensions

• Two complete crossing towers: Includes parts for building two separate HO scale structures.
• Authentic Milwaukee Road inspiration: Based on distinctive crossing towers used near Milwaukee's Everett Street Station.
• Two-story octagonal design: Recreates the recognizable architecture of historic railroad crossing towers.
• Elevated observation rooms: Represent the structures where crossing attendants monitored approaching trains and street traffic.
• Tool sheds included: Additional structures help complete the railroad crossing scenes.
• Storage bins included: Provide extra detail for the surrounding maintenance areas.
• Compact footprint: Each tower occupies approximately 1-1/4 x 1-1/4 inches of layout space.
• Multiple placement options: Install the towers at separate crossings or together within a larger railroad terminal district.
• Steam- and diesel-era applications: Suitable for historic railroad operations and older structures retained in later periods.
• Plastic structure kit: Designed for assembly, painting, and weathering.

Dimensions per tower: 1-1/4 x 1-1/4 x 3 inches (3.2 x 3.2 x 7.6 cm).

Package quantity: Two elevated crossing towers.

Additional included details: Tool sheds and storage bins.

Scale: HO Scale, 1:87.

Prototype inspiration: Milwaukee Road elevated crossing towers near Everett Street Station.

Recommended modeling periods: Steam and diesel eras.

Product type: Railroad grade-crossing tower plastic structure kit.

Manufacturer item number: 933-2945.

Recreate Historic Milwaukee Road Crossing Towers

The Milwaukee Road operated a busy network of passenger and freight tracks through Milwaukee, Wisconsin. At locations where railroad tracks intersected city streets, crossing attendants helped protect pedestrians, motorists, and other road users from approaching trains.

The distinctive elevated crossing towers near Everett Street Station provided an excellent vantage point for monitoring railroad movements. Their two-story octagonal design created a recognizable feature of the surrounding railroad terminal district.

The Walthers Cornerstone Elevated Crossing Tower kit captures this historic architectural style, making it especially useful for modelers recreating Milwaukee Road passenger operations and urban railroad scenes.

Browse Walthers Cornerstone railroad structures for additional buildings that complement historic railroad facilities.

Detail Two HO Scale Railroad Grade Crossings

Because the package includes two complete towers, modelers can create separate crossing scenes without purchasing another kit.

Position one tower beside a busy downtown railroad crossing and use the second near a passenger terminal, freight yard entrance, or industrial district.

Alternatively, install both towers within the same railroad complex to represent multiple streets crossing a busy mainline or terminal approach.

The compact dimensions make these structures especially useful where available space is limited by streets, sidewalks, railroad tracks, and nearby buildings.

Model Railroad Crossing Attendant Operations

Before automatic grade-crossing protection became widespread, many busy railroad crossings were supervised by employees responsible for warning road users about approaching trains.

Crossing attendants could operate gates, monitor train movements, and help coordinate the safe passage of road traffic across railroad tracks.

Elevated towers provided better visibility along the railroad right-of-way and across surrounding streets. This made them particularly useful near major passenger stations, industrial areas, and other locations with frequent train movements.

Use the Walthers Cornerstone towers to represent these historic railroad operations. Separately purchased crossing gates, warning signs, railroad employees, automobiles, and street details can help create a realistic scene.

Complement the Milwaukee Everett Street Station

The Elevated Crossing Tower Two-Pack is an especially appropriate companion to the Walthers Cornerstone Milwaukee Everett Street Station and Train Shed Kit 933-2946, sold separately.

The original Milwaukee Road crossing towers stood near the ends of the Everett Street Station complex, helping protect streets affected by passenger and freight train movements.

For a Milwaukee-inspired layout, position the two towers near railroad crossings at opposite ends of the passenger terminal area.

Add appropriate station buildings, passenger platforms, city streets, and railroad equipment to recreate the atmosphere of a major Midwestern railroad terminal.

Explore Walthers Cornerstone stations and depots for additional passenger railroad structures.

Use the Towers on Other North American Railroads

Although inspired by Milwaukee Road prototypes, similar elevated crossing towers were used by other North American railroads.

This makes the kit suitable for fictional railroads, regional railroad operations, and layouts based on other historic railroad companies.

Paint the towers in appropriate railroad or municipal colors and add suitable signage to integrate them into the surrounding scene.

For a steam-era railroad, the towers can represent an established grade-crossing protection system. For a transitional-era or early diesel-era layout, they can illustrate the period when traditional railroad operating practices existed alongside newer equipment.

Add Tool Sheds and Storage Bins

The kit includes tool sheds and storage bins that help create a more complete railroad maintenance setting.

Place the sheds near the towers to represent storage areas for crossing maintenance equipment and supplies.

The storage bins can be positioned alongside the towers, near the tool sheds, or in another appropriate location within the railroad right-of-way.

Separately purchased barrels, utility poles, warning signs, fencing, and railroad workers can add further realism.

Browse Walthers Cornerstone accessories and details for complementary scenery components.

Plan the Crossing Tower Placement

Each completed tower measures 1-1/4 inches long, 1-1/4 inches wide, and 3 inches high.

Because of their small footprints, the towers can fit into compact urban scenes where larger railroad buildings would be impractical.

For a convincing installation, place each tower where the operator would have a clear view of approaching trains and the roadway being protected.

Leave suitable space for nearby sidewalks, crossing protection equipment, maintenance access, and railroad clearance requirements.

For larger railroad terminal scenes, use both towers to establish a coordinated system of crossing protection.

Paint and Weather the Elevated Crossing Towers

The Walthers Cornerstone Elevated Crossing Towers provide an opportunity to recreate the appearance of small railroad structures exposed to years of outdoor service.

For a historic railroad scene, finish the buildings in colors appropriate to the selected railroad and modeling period.

Subtle weathering can represent soot from steam locomotives, dust from nearby streets, faded paint, and general exposure to the elements.

For a well-maintained railroad terminal, use relatively clean finishes. For an older industrial district, apply additional weathering to suggest structures that have remained in service for many years.

Assembly and Finishing Supplies

The Elevated Crossing Tower Two-Pack is an unassembled HO scale plastic structure kit. Carefully review the manufacturer's instructions and test-fit the components before permanent assembly.

Assemble and finish both towers individually, then position the included tool sheds and storage bins to suit the layout.

For painting and assembly, explore model railroad paint and model building glue and adhesives. Use products compatible with styrene plastic and follow the manufacturer's instructions.

Important: This product is an unassembled HO scale Elevated Crossing Tower Two-Pack Kit. It includes parts for two complete two-story octagonal crossing towers, along with tool sheds and storage bins. Each completed tower measures 1-1/4 x 1-1/4 x 3 inches (3.2 x 3.2 x 7.6 cm). Milwaukee Everett Street Station 933-2946, railroad track, crossing gates, signals, locomotives, rolling stock, vehicles, figures, paints, adhesives, and additional scenery are sold separately.

The Walthers Cornerstone HO Scale Elevated Crossing Tower Two-Pack Kit 933-2945 adds authentic railroad history and operational detail to HO scale layouts. With two distinctive Milwaukee Road-inspired towers, compact footprints, and included tool sheds and storage bins, this kit is an excellent choice for modeling busy railroad crossings, passenger terminal approaches, and historic urban railroad districts.