What's New on the PRR Panhandle 2.0?

[healey36]

George - Saw a mention in Alexander's history of the Pennsylvania Railroad as follows:

Perhaps the first of the "long-span" bridges was that at Steubenville over the Ohio River, built in 1863 and 1864. The channel span was 320 feet in length and largely of cast iron.

Your bridge seems unlikely to have been built in 1863/1864...is it a replacement for that earlier bridge?

Healey

[G3750]

Healey, you are correct. That bridge you reference is the first.

Here's the second.

Panhandle RR Iron Bridge.jpg (1.18 MiB) Viewed 3257 times

Mine is the third on the site. Note the stone arch in the photo. That was re-used for the 3rd as well as several piers.

And I have stood on the spot where that small cabin with the smoke used to be.

George

[MurphOnMillerAve]

That little homestead in the foreground is fabulous, instructive, and a compact little beauty to model in toto.

[rogruth]

George,
Is that from the WV side looking west?

[G3750]

George,
Is that from the WV side looking west?

Yes. Here's another angle.

5799_1234195720.jpg (407.61 KiB) Viewed 3236 times

George

[G3750]

Updated 2/6/2018:

As a result of the Weirton Steel article in the Steel Mill Modelers Journal, I was asked to do a clinic on modeling Weirton Steel for the local NMRA Division (Mid-Continent Division 2 - Keystone). But that's beside the point. Working on the clinic gave me the opportunity to look at prototype photos again and revisit some of my assumptions on train operations in and around the steel mill. Of course, the result was a tweak or two for the layout.

• So that Blast Furnace traffic could be exchanged, the reversing / run-around track now passes through the backdrop into the Staging Area in two places. Loaded coal hoppers and ore jennies will arrive, go behind the backdrop into the Staging Area, and be exchanged for empties that pass out. Likewise, loaded slag cars and hot metal cars will exit Staging near the Blast Furnace area and return empty.
  
• The changes to the backdrop resulted in a better organization of the access hatches. I can now easily get to the back of the Open Hearth and Blooming Mills to fix derailments or maintain the electronics in the buildings. That's a better decision; I know there may be problems and I have a way to handle them. The buildings will have removable back panels for this purpose.
  
• I added a pipe bridge along the side of the Strip Steel building as well as piping detail across the front.

Here are the changes to the track plan.

2.0 v042 - RightSide.jpg (235.61 KiB) Viewed 3228 times

The backdrop went to the printers on Monday. We should see it shortly.

George

[rogruth]

I think I like the changes.

[G3750]

I think I like the changes.

Thanks. I am seriously trying to avoid the mistakes I made in Panhandle 1.0. To that end, I am:

• Giving a lot of thought to access hatches and reaching distant track work. That was a nightmare on the previously layout. I am not getting any more flexible or nimble.
• Focusing on backdrop installation FIRST.
• Fighting the impulse to just do something, anything to make progress. Short cuts lead to long delays. That's why I have some small projects going that are not in the critical path. Being retired helps. The kids aren't in the house, the job isn't demanding 10-12 hours, and my working time on the layout isn't portioned into 15-30 minute chunks. Planning and deliberate execution has become possible.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Planning and deliberate execution has become possible.

Oh dear, I don't like the sound of that; it'll all end in tears, you know.

[G3750]

Planning and deliberate execution has become possible.

Oh dear, I don't like the sound of that; it'll all end in tears, you know.

Not to worry, there's still opportunity for the well planned, completely hare-brained move.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Planning and deliberate execution has become possible.

Oh dear, I don't like the sound of that; it'll all end in tears, you know.

Not to worry, there's still opportunity for the well planned, completely hare-brained move.

[G3750]

Hey!!! It's my party and I'll cry if I want to.

[healey36]

How are the backdrops coming along? Being based on photographs, will they be printed on rolled paper which you will then apply to some sort of backing board, or will they get applied directly to the dry-wall? What's the plan, man?

Healey

[G3750]

How are the backdrops coming along? Being based on photographs, will they be printed on rolled paper which you will then apply to some sort of backing board, or will they get applied directly to the dry-wall? What's the plan, man?

Healey

Great questions, Healey. My understanding is that the backdrop will go directly on the wall. I am confirming some of the details, but here are the basic steps:

Step 1: Construct the Staging Area tables and divider. The rightmost (eastern) part of the backdrop will hang on this divider.

Step 2: Test fit the backdrop segments to double-check their measurements and placement.

Step 3: Apply a special primer to the wall so that it doesn't lose adherence later.
https://www.lowes.com/pd/Zinsser-Peel-S ... gJ2NPD_BwE

Step 4: Apply a wallpaper adhesive to the backdrop / wall. Something like this.
https://www.menards.com/main/paint/wall ... 993176.htm

Step 5: Apply sections (I think they are in 8' long segments) to the wall. The paste will allow me some time to adjust the position of the segments. The alternative was a self-stick option, but that leaves no room for error. Knowing myself, I opted for the primer / paste method.

George

[healey36]

Sounds do-able, but you better have three or four folks handy to help you manhandle an eight-foot roll of material up onto the wall, not to mention apply the paste. I would imagine it will be heavy...hopefully it will have some sort of vinyl or plastic coating to keep it together when you're working with it.

Should be sharp once you get it up there...

Healey