The Erie Railroad Signal Tower at Waldwick Yard is a historic railroad building in Waldwick, Bergen County, New Jersey. You can view its exterior and interpretive signs, while access to the museum inside depends on scheduled events or an appointment.
- Location: Northeast end of Bohnert Place, on the west side of the railroad tracks.
- Public access: Special events and appointments; event opening information is published by All Aboard Waldwick.
- Nearby history: The Waldwick Railroad Museum of Local History is south of the tower.
Finding the signal tower at Waldwick Yard
The Erie Railroad Signal Tower, also known as the WC, stands at the northeast end of Bohnert Place, on the west side of the railroad tracks in Waldwick. Its address is 1 Bohnert Place, Waldwick, NJ 07463.
The landmark is about an 8-minute drive from Ramsey Inn & Suites near Waldwick. The tower’s position beside the tracks makes it part of the former rail-yard setting, rather than a building on a downtown street.
Why the tower matters to local rail history
The tower and the Waldwick Railroad Depot are the remaining structures of a rail yard that once served the area. The Paterson and Ramapo Railroad opened its line through present-day Waldwick in 1848. The New York and Lake Erie Railroad took control in 1852 and renamed it the Erie Railroad.
The yard included a triangular turnaround, a turntable for steam engines and a four-stall engine house. The turnaround and engine-repair facilities were eventually discontinued after third and fourth tracks were installed in 1902 and 1903.
The National Register of Historic Places identifies the tower’s style as Queen Anne and gives its periods of significance as 1875–1899, with significant years 1886 and 1895. The nomination dates its construction to approximately 1886–1895; the Waldwick Historical Society’s All Aboard site gives 1890. It was listed on the National Register on December 23, 1987.
Public viewing and access considerations
You can see interpretive signs outside the tower, but entering the museum requires planning around its public access arrangements. The tower is open for special events, by appointment, and according to the events schedule on All Aboard Waldwick’s Facebook page.
The borough’s Open Space and Recreation Plan says the tower served Erie, Conrail and NJ Transit before closing in 1986. The Waldwick Historical Society formed its All Aboard Committee in 1999 to preserve it, and the tower was restored during the 2000s.
It now serves as a museum. Before you go: check the official site before you go for current event and appointment details.
How do you get from Ramsey to the signal tower?
Driving from Ramsey is a straightforward way to reach the tower: the estimated trip from Ramsey Inn & Suites takes about 8 minutes. Set your destination to 1 Bohnert Place in Waldwick, then look for the tower at the northeast end of the street, beside the west side of the tracks.
If you are planning a wider visit to the area, the guide to staying around Ramsey, New Jersey offers more local context.
Pairing the stop with other nearby history
The Waldwick Railroad Museum of Local History is at 4 Hewson Avenue, south of the signal tower. The Waldwick Community Alliance says the railroad yard was a major facility from 1890 until around 1960. At its peak, approximately half of Waldwick households had at least one family member working for the railroad at the yard.
That wider story gives the tower a useful place in a short local-history outing: the building represents the yard’s signal operations, while the railroad museum provides another point of connection to Waldwick’s rail past.
FAQs
Where is the Erie Railroad Signal Tower?
It stands at the northeast end of Bohnert Place, on the west side of the railroad tracks in Waldwick, Bergen County, New Jersey.
Can you go inside the signal tower?
The tower operates as a museum, with access during scheduled events or by appointment. Interpretive signs are available outside.
When was the tower built?
The National Register nomination gives an approximate construction span of 1886–1895, while the Waldwick Historical Society’s All Aboard site says it was built in 1890.
What other historic places are in the area?
The Waldwick Railroad Museum of Local History is another nearby rail-history stop. For a different local-history visit, you can also consider The Hermitage in Ho-Ho-Kus.