Greendell Tower

Greendell Tower is located roughly a quarter mile east of Greendell Station in rural Sussex County, New Jersey. Built by the Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad, the tower opened on December 23, 1911—one day before the Lackawanna Cut-Off officially entered service as a replacement for the Old Road. Only two other interlocking towers were constructed along the Cut-Off: Port Morris Junction and Slateford Junction. Greendell Tower was closed and abandoned in 1938.

The tower was staffed by a towerman responsible for operating the mechanical levers that controlled the switches and signals, allowing trains to move safely from one track to another. The operator also oversaw the sidings that connected the Cut-Off to the local tracks at Greendell, and communicated with passing trains to relay orders and information essential to safe operations.

Because of its remote location, the towerman accessed the site by train, with crews making a special stop to let him on or off. The tower contained two levels: the upper story housed the lever frame and offered clear visibility along the line, while the lower level held equipment and utilities. During the 1930s, the Lackawanna Railroad had not yet adopted radio communication, so the towerman would have needed to hoop up train orders to passing crews.

As of 2025, the Lackawanna Cutoff Historical Committee has begun maintaining the exterior appearance of Greendell Tower for public viewing during Greendell Station Museum events.