Garden State Model Railway Club, Inc. - Virtual Layout Tour

Virtual Layout Tour

The Branch Line - Crystal Lake

This photo shows the new electrification and the model of the New Jersey Zinc tipple, both constructed by Walter.

This view looks south on the branch line, through the truss bridge and towards Crystal Lake station on the left. The RDC is departing the station and making its way onto the bridge.

At Crystal Lake Junction, the branch line splits into two routes. The straight leg of the switch is the beginning of an industrial spur, which services the Zinc Mine, the upper loading area of Stepan Chemical, a coal dump, and a scrap metal company. Although the rails were torn up years ago, this leg of the branch once extended many miles further, evidenced by the fact that an overgrown right-of-way continues on and crosses the main again at a set of old stone bridge abutments.

The curved, or 'reverse' leg of the switch at Crystal Lake Junction leads the branch over an enormous trestle to Otter Creek and to other points north on the branch.

Pennsylvania Railroad K4 Pacific #1361 pulls a reefer express Westbound on the Garden State Northern. Overhead, a New York Central RDC1 departs Crystal Lake depot and heads down grade to Norristown Junction, on the other side of the Walterville backdrop. Although only its backdrop is visible, the River runs parallel to the branch line here and can be seen from the Walterville area.

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Northbound to Otter Creek

Southbound to Norristown Junction and the main line connection.