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

Virtual Layout Tour

The CNJ Terminal and PETE Tower

Pete is almost finished with this incredible stucture. In the distance can be seen passenger trains coming out from beneath the station. Also, note the World Trade Center towers, which we will leave in place in memory of September 11, 2001.

Looking from another angle a couple of years after the above photo, you can see a lot more roof detail and hard work by Pete on his amazing structure.

The large clock on the front of the terminal keeps real time!

Just east of Albatross Yard, the railroad swings around the Garden State Northern Passenger Terminal. However, it is informally known as the CNJ Terminal, because it is modeled after the Central Railroad of New Jersey's terminal on the Hudson River in Jersey City (now a part of Liberty State Park and a departure point for Ellis Island/Statue of Liberty excursion ferries).

This is the lower level of the Passenger Terminal. Here the station's 8 stub-end tracks run from the throat switches to the open platforms, and then dive into the trainshed underneath the station building.

On the upper level of the station, era taxis and buses wait on the road outside the station building to transport train and ferry passengers on the final leg of their journey.

Although still under construction, it has come a long way from its appearance only two years ago. All of the rail and station platforms have been installed, and the trainshed is nearly complete, including the stairs to the upper level. The Hudson River ferry-slips are also almost done. On top, the street and sidewalks are complete, and taxis are already waiting to pick up passengers from arriving trains.

PETE Tower controls all train movements into and out of the terminal, as well as the east end of Albatross Yard. Tower operators are always busy throwing the endless array of switches to direct the fleet of commuter trains and expresses.

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Eastbound to the Viaduct

Westbound to Albatross Yard