What's New on the PRR Panhandle 2.0?

[healey36]

Congratulations, George, the model looks terrific. I expect one might learn a bit about steel-making studying your work.

Paul R.

[G3750]

Congratulations, George, the model looks terrific. I expect one might learn a bit about steel-making studying your work.

Paul R.

Thanks, Paul!

Well, I certainly did learn quite a bit about 1950's steel-making technology. I studied Chapter 13 - The Open Hearth of The Making, Shaping, and Treating of Steel (1957 edition) pretty extensively. And of course, that has all the advantages of being proficient in a dead language, e.g. Latin.

So, I've got that going for me.

George

[G3750]

Updated 6/7/2025:

Since the pipe bridge was installed, I attended the Pennsylvania Railroad Technical & Historical Society's Annual Meeting in Harrisburg last month. I've also been busy weathering slag and hot metal cars.

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IMG_0853.JPEG (2.93 MiB) Viewed 16189 times

I'm working on a project to make removable lighted loads for these cars for use during operating sessions.

And I have started construction on the Crawford's Crossing (Main Street / WV Route 2 & 22) overpass.

Short Trestle-Overpass Diagram v026.jpg (169.26 KiB) Viewed 16189 times

The piers will be wood, which I will glue together and paint a concrete color.

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More when I know it.

George

[gregj410]

I'm working on a project to make removable lighted loads for these cars for use during operating sessions.

Evans designs may have something that will work for you. I’ve used their flickering LED’s in barrels to simulate fire. They look pretty good to me.

[G3750]

I'm working on a project to make removable lighted loads for these cars for use during operating sessions.

Evans designs may have something that will work for you. I’ve used their flickering LED’s in barrels to simulate fire. They look pretty good to me.

Thanks Greg, that's who I ordered from. We're still working on the right configuration. I will post that when it's done.

George

[G3750]

Updated 10/3/2026:

It's been awhile since I posted progress on the layout. There's been a lot:

• Completed the highway overpass known as Crawford's Crossing - about 16' long - including lights, railings, piers.
• Built a staircase from the overpass to the mill floor
• Rebuilt the Blooming Mill, adding a more realistic billboard, a soaking pit, weathering, and a spur track
• Converted and detailed a NJ Custom Brass yard structure into a Weirton Steel yard tower.
• Installed a 2' high divider with backdrops - one side is Weirton Junction and the other is the City of Weirton

All of this should be visible if I can get this shared iCloud album link to work. Please let me know if it doesn't work.

https://photos.icloud.com/shared/album/076rNmUePDs8uKL7Ak5paULBw

George

[webenda]

Updated 10/3/2026:
All of this should be visible if I can get this shared iCloud album link to work. Please let me know if it doesn't work.
George

Good to see you back, George.
How about I let you know it works?
That yard tower looks great!
........Yard Tower by George, on iCloud
Any photos you would like posted on Model Train Journal, or perhaps none (remove the yard tower photo)?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

All of this should be visible if I can get this shared iCloud album link to work. Please let me know if it doesn't work.

It works just fine!

You've been busy!

[G3750]

All of this should be visible if I can get this shared iCloud album link to work. Please let me know if it doesn't work.

It works just fine!

You've been busy!

Good to hear from you, Rufus!

Yes, I have been busy. We are moving along. I have been working on the major items on the tracked parts of the layout. I am looking at the western half (Steubenville) with the idea of getting cookie-cutter track supports built and track laid in the next 6-9 months. Still lots of structures and scenery work left on the Weirton peninsula. And the city of Steubenville is completely non-existent. But yes, significant progress has taken place.

George