"COLA" STYLE BRICK TOWER

COLA tower, as seen on the right was built following the unfortunate destruction of tower LG-42 when ice flows, built-up against the Columbia-Wrightsville bridge caused the Susquehanna to overflow its banks an undermine the tower, which sat just on the bank of the Susquehanna River between the Frederick Branch to York and the Lincoln Highway bridge. When rebuilt, the tower was rebuilt a quarter mile south of where it stood and built if more solid brick in a flemish-bond style pattern.    The tower since built has seen many trains since it governed movement of train east and west from lancaster to York, as well as trains north and south on the Atglen & Susquehanna, known as the PRR's "Low-Grade" line to Philadelphia, and movements of train onto and off of the Columbia & Port Deposit Branch to Perryville and beyond.    The tower still stands outlasting the Pennsylvania railroad, Penn Central, Conrail and still serves Norfolk Southern today as the heart of the CTC system for the C&PD and what's left of the A&S.

The model, being manufactured in HO is built to the same high-qulaity specifications as Mount Vernon Shops previous tower, YORK and has taken its level of details to the next step. The window-less clear acrylic pilot model can be seen on the left. The model will include two different foundations, either the one shown on the model or a foundation for the tower as it sits currently in Columbia with almost the full depth of the basement shown. Additionally, holes have been cut for placement of train order flags at the modelers descretion, as well as holes cut in place for the modeler to "light up" both the interior and the track illumination lights on the front of the tower. A price has not been confirmed yet, but will be shortly. This model will be availible in HO Scale only.

Above is the pilot model which was completed on january 28th, 2007. With this model being completed as-is the next step will be to write instructions. Once that is done a limited run of 10-15 towers will be produced and sold. If you are interested in a tower you can contact John at admin@mountvernonshops.com to be placed on a reserved waiting list. Overall this has been a very fun model to work on since concieved in May of 2006 for Bruce Smith. In the same tradition that the YORK tower model was dedicated to John's father Ivan Frantz Jr. the COLA tower model is dedicated to Bruce Smith and the inspiration he's been to John Frantz. Once COLA hits production, Mount Vernon Shops will no longer be taking requests for towers. Due to the amount of time dedicated to other projects the owner of Mount Vernon Shops will be changing the scope of its business in the next few months. This doesn't mean it wont stop fulfilling orders for either YORK or COLA towers or producing more towers in the future. Typically a tower has been done every 2-3 years. If the planning schedule of Mount Vernon Shops presents time for another tower one will be done. It is fair to say that the owner of Mount Vernon Shops has two towers in mind for future projects.

The above three pictures give two overall oblique views of the tower and one close up detail view of the front of COLA in which the flemish-bond brickwork is clearly visible as well as the brick detail on the two track illumination lights. Also worth noting are the basement windows as well as the outside entrace to the basement, which contains the air compressors for maintaining air for moving the turnouts. The two holes een below the front winodws of the tower aren't mistakes, they are meant to be holes in which train order flags may be placedd as an extra detail. Unfortunately these were too big on the pilot model but have since been adjusted.

RELEASE DATE: 2007 HO COLA TOWER: $110.00

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