North Dorset, Vermont - Tool House

The North Dorset tool house is seen being used on the WRD as the Middlesex Center tool and train order office.

Don Janes asked me a few questions about North Dorset, Vermont on the Rutland Ry. I had to dig back into an old RRHS Newsliner for some of the answers. I covered the North Dorset station and area back in the Winter 1998 issue. What Don was after is the train order signal location and dimension data for the tool house. As far as I know there never was a train order signal at the station, but there was one at the tool house as seen in a Bob's photo. Rutland Car Shops, now part of Bethlehem Car Works offers a nice model of the tool house and station. I actually purchased both but use them at different locations. The tool house is easy to scratch-build which Don plans to do.

The tool house is 26' by 16' with a height of 12' and 17' at the peak. The tool house door is 8' by8' and is 4' in from the corner. There is a window centered at both ends. The trim looks dark so I assume the structure was once painted. The roofing is roll tar-paper in a dark colour. There is a  brick chimney on the far side on the roof peak.

This is the view found on the Bethlehem Car Works web site for the N. Dorset section house. I have seen this photo before and is now offered by Bob's Photo and is dated 1947. The tool house was retired in 1954 and the station was retired in 1951 when it was moved and property sold. It is not clear in this view but the order board blades are hanging on the post just below the top signal. My guess they are applied when an operator was assigned here or the signal is already retired.

On the WRD the Rutland style train order signal is active and the blades are installed at Middlesex Center. This scene looks different at the moment while the tool house gets refurbishing.

If you are a RRHS member plans for the North Dorset station was drawn in HO scale by Bill Badger and can be found in the Newsliner Vol.1 No.1.

North Dorset - Water Tank
Next to the station there was a covered water tank similar to those found in Maine. The interior water tank was 10' high by 16' in width inside a 20'9" by 20'9" building 20' high on the sides which has a peaked top. It sat on a 3' high concrete base. The notes record there are windows also and I would presume a door. This tank structure is noted as being novelty siding and painted. Most of the water tanks on the Rutland Ry.never saw any paint...might make a neat model...George Dutka