What's New on the PRR Panhandle Division?

[rogruth]

George,

I think that Wheeling Steel moved hot metal cars from their furnaces at Benwood
to the mill at south Wheeling on their own railroad called the Wheeling-Benwood Connecting.
This line,the B&O and the PRR were side by side here.[I think.I left that area 60 years ago.]

[G3750]

George,

I think that Wheeling Steel moved hot metal cars from their furnaces at Benwood
to the mill at south Wheeling on their own railroad called the Wheeling-Benwood Connecting.
This line,the B&O and the PRR were side by side here.[I think.I left that area 60 years ago.]

Roger,

What kind of distance are we talking for that move?

George

[G3750]

Updated 7/28/2013:

I ripped up the spur that heads into the Strip Steel last night. I was poking around my workshop and found several smaller straight pieces of track that will work for starting the curve sooner. At this point, it looks like I won't even have to cut any new track sections. The subroadbed holding the spur is wide enough to accomodate the change in position, too. I started moving the Vinylbed roadbed.

If I'm not interrupted I should be able to get this corrected tonight.

George

[rogruth]

I think it may have been two or three miles.
Maybe a little further than the Mingo-Stuebenville connection.

[G3750]

Updated 7/30/2013:

Right on cue, Murphy invoked his Law and I didn't get to spend very much time working on the Strip Steel spur. However, in about 15 minutes I did manage to:

• Assemble track pieces that result in a spur that fits within the available space.
• Reposition the Vinylbed track roadbed and track and begin the process of fastening it down.
• Verify that the end-of-track occupancy circuit (insulated rail) still works, run the wires, and find a spot for a terminal strip.
• Work out a location for the light triggered by the above circuit. It will illuminate a corner bay or hanging gooseneck lamp (over a man-door) at the extreme left side (as you look at it) of the building.

All I have left to do test fit the front of the building again and then screw down 2 pieces of track. Hopefully tonight.

George

[G3750]

Updated 8/1/2013:

Finally kicked Murphy in the @$$ and got the Strip Steel spur realigned.

Here's the placement of the track (without the building encumbering the view).

StripSteelFront_004.JPG (88.38 KiB) Viewed 4094 times

And here's the building mockup showing the entry point for the spur.

StripSteelFront_003.JPG (76.84 KiB) Viewed 4097 times

George

[rogruth]

George,

Have you checked the clearance between the track into the building with the main line track with locos or cars on them?
Looks as if it might be a little tight.

[G3750]

George,

Have you checked the clearance between the track into the building with the main line track with locos or cars on them?
Looks as if it might be a little tight.

Roger,

Not yet, but I will. I might need to nudge the track a 1/4" to the right. It's hard to judge because the hang of the paper wall is disturbed by the track - tends to distort the accuracy.

Only very short cuts (2 boxcars or coil-covered gondolas) will enter / exit the building. The locomotive (S-2 Alco) will stay outside.

Still, good catch and best to make sure now.

thanks,

George

[G3750]

Updated 8/2/2013:

Roseanne_Roseannadanna.PNG (60.85 KiB) Viewed 4071 times

Well, it's always something!

My research into in-town telephone / power poles and sidewalks got me into this pickle. Looking at those fabulous old photos of 1950's North Weirton generated a lot of thought about the look I want for this module. One thing led to another and I laid out sidewalks for the entire module, including the overpass. Unfortunately, the overpass is bordered by two already constructed buildings. One (Open Hearth) is immovable because of its spur. The other (Blooming Mill) may have to slide "north" as far as 3" to accommodate these (previously unplanned) sidewalks. That means the front of the Strip Steel may shrink (new frame) from its huge 43.5" width and the opening for the spur may go back to its original position.

#@%&! But at least I'm not finding out when the building is done. And sacrificing half of one of the 7 bays will not cause the loss of the building's character or appearance.

Like I said, it's always something. Back to the drawing board to figure this all out.

George

[G3750]

Updated 8/4/2013:

News flash from the "Measure Twice Cut Once" Department:

It all fits without modification! A check of clearances and the movement of the Open Hearth Mill to the "south" yields about 2" extra space. Rather than make the overpass sidewalks 1.5" wide (6 scale feet), I will use 1" (4 scale feet). I have seen prototype sidewalks narrow when they cross bridges, so this is a plausible compromise (at least to me).

I just saved myself a bunch of grief and work! So I'm pretty happy.

George

[G3750]

Updated 8/9/2013:

I just registered for the Steel Mill Modeler's Meet in Pittsburgh (Coraopolis) at the end of the month. This will give me a chance to:

• Visit my parents
• Get some information and inspiration regarding steel mill modeling for both my own layout and the Weirton Area Museum layout
• Capture more steel mill prototype information (see what's left of Weirton Steel and Weirton)

Looking forward to it!

George

[G3750]

Updated 8/26/2013:

I'm eagerly anticipating and trying to prepare for the Steel Mill Modeler's Meet this week.

But another mission involves capturing photographs and measurements for the mill wall along Main Street in North Weirton. The prototype consists of poured concrete wall sections between concrete pilasters topped with barbed wire. I plan to get accurate measurements, create a prototype, and then with the help of a friend cast as many segments as I need. That will be a bunch because the area on the layout is at least 6 linear feet long.

And I also need some photographs of the Strip Steel Mill roof from the adjoining height of Weir Avenue (a few feet above roof top level). The building has some unique "penthouses" with windows or vents on either side that rise above the roof line. These are separated by about 8-10 feet of flat roof. If you are familiar with some of the Korber buildings, you'll see a triangular set of roof vents. The Strip Steel Mill has similar but rectangular types of structures on its roof. However, they also provide light as well as ventilation (from what I can tell). I need some close-ups.

Anyway, here's sort of the idea: http://shop.korbermodels.com/Korber-Mod ... ny-921.htm

Obviously, I can't get onto the building roof itself to take measurements , so I'm hoping the photos will give me a sense of proportion for these structures (which I will get to see end-on).

George

[G3750]

Updated 9/19/2013:

Work on the telephone / utility poles and research for the downtowns of both Weirton & Steubenville continues.

Here's a shot of downtown Steubenville in the 1950s. The view is east on Market Street towards the Market Street bridge (WV cliffs visible beyond the bridge).

Downtown Steubenville.jpg (41.94 KiB) Viewed 3871 times

Note the GM busses (in Pittsburgh & Weirton livery). As a little boy, my maternal grandfather would take me on the bus across the river to Steubenville. We would sit on the benches, visit some of the stores (The Hub - white building in the middle left of photo), and end up at the back of S.S. Kresge for a soda and some pistachios.

George

[rogruth]

George,

I remember this type of scene in Steubenville.I also remember
street cars.I think all of the street car service in the Wheeling-
Steubenville area ended in 1946.

Notice that there are five buses in that short section of street.
As you said they seem to be the Steubenville -Weirton buses.
The buses that ran to Mingo were Co-Operative Transit,I think.
They were also GM [weren't they all?] but were a different paint
scheme using orange and cream [?].

[J. S. Bach]

...snip...
Co-Operative Transit,I think.
They were also GM [weren't they all?] but were a different paint
scheme using orange and cream [?].

Yes they were; some ran until the late 70s before being replaced. I have the builder's plate from #108, a TD4007 serial #580 built 06/46, #110, a TDH4008 serial #722 built 10/47, and #131, a TD4008 serial #1297 built 03/48. Another of my hobbies.