Virtual Layout Tour
Norristown and Norristown Junction
"Home of Joe Shorts"
A GSN 4-8-2 has just decended the mountain from Otter Creek and is crossing the GSN main on the branchline at Norristown Junction.
Norristown Junction is where the Garden State Northern Branch Line,
operated by the Otter Creek & Perry, connects with the Garden State Northern
Main and heads to Crystal Lake and Otter Creek. There are a pair of crossovers here,
and a pair of diamonds [crosstracks] where the Branch crosses over the GSN Mainline.
The west entrance to Albatross Yard is also controlled from NR Tower. Located in
the middle of the interchange tracks is NR Tower, governing all train movements on
the mainline east of the area controlled by Perry Tower and west of the area controlled
by PETE Tower. We suggest that you first continue touring up to
Crystal Lake, the first of three locations on the Branch Line,
before continuing on to the city of Norristown and points west on the GSN main.
The Otter Creek and Perry is busy at its newly reconfigured Norristown Junction.
2-8-0 #38 brings its train, en route to Perry, down the OC&P main toward the west
connection with the GSN mainline while two OC&P switchers are busy at work.
To the west of the Junction is an Industrial district of the town of
Norristown, Pennsylvania. One of the largest industries in Norristown
is the Fazio Fuel Distribution center, which is a dealer in Diesel Oil,
Coal, Propane, and Natural Gas. Also located in the scene of Norristown
is the Conte Luna Macaroni Factory [which actually exists in the real
Norristown, Pennsylvania], and Zumo Lumber. To serve these industries,
and to interchange with the GSN Branch, a small yard is located in
Norristown. A joint branch-and-mainline depot sits right at the diamonds.
All of the track and wiring in Norristown is complete. The tracks were recently
ballasted, and grade crossings were installed across the industrial tracks for
the road coming up from Perry. Right now, the structures for Norristown,
especially those for Fazio Fuel, are under construction and are hoped to be finished soon.
Eventually, many of the familiar landmarks of Norristown will be painted on the backdrop,
including the Philadelphia & Western trestle over the Schuylkill [SKOO-kull] River.
This is the intersection of Lafayette Avenue and DeKalb Street
in Norristown, PA, as viewed from the Pennsylvania Railroad bridge. An exact likeness of this
photograph and many others have been painted onto the backdrop in our HO scale Norristown,
by our most artistically talented member Pete.
Photo Copyright ©2000 Anthony R. Tofani
If the Pennsy tracks had not been abandoned, the corner of Lafayette and Dekalb would look like
this as shown in this photo of our HO model. Pete is truly amazing with his backdrops!
Learn more about Norristown's railroad history:
Norristown, PA - Then & Now
Back to the Virtual Tour Main Page
Eastbound to Pete's Viaduct
Westbound to Perry
Northbound to Crystal Lake Junction on the Branch Line
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Last Updated February 23, 2005
