Railroad Switch Towers

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This photo shows the the intersection of the railroad line that ran from Atco to Mullica Hill. The camera is facing south. The approximate location is south of Zane Street on the west side of the tracks. The switch towers were located near the approximate map coordinates 39.698570, -75.116840.

The two switch towers controlled trains crossing the Millville Line leaving Glassboro. The smaller tower on the left was the original tower built by the Williamstown and Delaware River Railroad in 1888. When train service expanded, the CS Owen Tower (larger building) was built in 1906 by the West Jersey & Seashore Railroad.

Railroad historian, Rich Drobil says,:
"The railroad line ran along the left side of the Automotive Company now know as South Jersey Gas Company, crossed Main St. and Union St. where it connected by a Left hand switch to the West Jersey & Southern RR Millville Branch. Then South of Zane St. at RR Mile Post 15.73. It also made a right connecting switch to a 90 degree double cross and over the two Millville Branch North & South bound tracks, continuing across the field, where the solar array panels are now and across Sewell Ave in front of Whitney-Owens Works. From there it went to Mullica Hill and ended."

Mr. Drobil continued:
"Going the other way from the So Jersey Gas Company it went to Williamstown to Atco (Atco was named for Atlantic Company) the railroad company that founded the town. There is a map on page 20 of the book: Atlantic City Railroad "The Royal Route To The Sea" by George Cook and William J. Coxey that shows the whole Glassboro Complex including the Williamstown & Delaware Railroad (Atco to Mullica Hill) running across West Jersey and Southern rail lines in Glassboro."