The standards for the track construction were prepared under the direction of J. L. Crider, chief engineer. The passenger stations and signal towers may be said to constitute the most attractive group of way structures possessed by any electric or steam railroad in the United States. This result was made possible by the progressive attitude of the company, which was ambitious to erect buildings which would add to rather than detract from the expected high-class suburban development of this territory. At the same time, it was desired to have permanent structures that could be maintained at less expense than wooden or brick buildings. For this reason, many of the stations have cafes, haberdasheries and other stores in addition to the usual magazine and candy stands.
Some stations also have a room for baggage handling.
At certain places the station building is being utilized as a natural headquarters for the local real estate development. A study of different materials showed that concrete, plain or reinforced, according to conditions, was not only the most economical but that it could also lend itself to great variety in architectural treatment. One of its principal advantages was that it could be tied in with retaining walls, thus giving an unbroken architectural effect and making impressive looking structures of even the unimportant stations. Thus, the back of many stations is merely a continuation of the retaining walls, except that windows have been furnished in the walls of the platforms to avoid the ugly effect which would be given by blind walls seen from outside the station. Many forms of construction were necessary, as some of the station structures are below the track level, others alongside the track and still others over the track.