What's New on the PRR Panhandle Division?

[jlong]

Lookin good George. It's clear to me now that weirton green and jade green are two different animals.

[G3750]

Lookin good George. It's clear to me now that weirton green and jade green are two different animals.

John, a friend from the Pittsburgh area who sometimes posts here and on OGR calls the Weirton color "Columbia Gas Meter Green". And he's right! I recall those meters being on my parents' house in Weirton in the 1960s.

George

[G3750]

Updated 4/2/2014:

Not much to report today. I have applied putty to 4 utility poles so far. 7 to go. Interruptions abound.

It is my mother's 91st birthday! She has a great interest in the progress of the telephone poles.

George

[rogruth]

Nice to hear that your mother still has interest in your model building.

Happy birthday to her.

[G3750]

Updated 4/4/2014:

Happy to report that I just finished applying putty to all the 11 lighted utility poles. Finally!

I've got to let 4 of them dry and then I will sand them tomorrow after I get home from the Strasburg Train Show.

George

[G3750]

This update is a little different. Thought I'd share my purchases from the Strasburg Train Show on Saturday. This is a 2-rail O (O-Scale) meet held 2-3 times a year. This is the first one of the season. I like these shows because they are very different from your typical O-gauge venue. They are (obviously) more scale oriented but there also tends to be a lot of detail parts, craftsman structure kits, and other items not usually seen. There also tend to be some 3-rail items that can be had (sometimes) at bargain prices.

I picked up:

• MTH PRR N-8 cabin car with train phone antenna (didn't do great on the price, but haven't seen these in 10 years). I would like to find the remaining one 478115.
• Builders in Scale Slate Shingles (2 pkgs). I think these might be destined for a PRR interlocking tower at Weirton Junction (WC).
• Mountain States Model Works Telephone Booth Kit (from 1975). This kit builds 3 "old" or "new" style telephone booths and was the bargain of the show. Only $2.00.
• Package of 8 unpainted plastic tree stumps for $1.00

It was a great outing. The weather was beautiful, had the company of a good friend (another O-gauger), attended very interesting train show - certainly can't complain.

George

[G3750]

Updated 4/8/2014:

Baby steps, but all poles have been sanded. I will try painting my first one tomorrow and see how it turns out.

George

[jlong]

George, any plans to advertise your poles on the OGR forum?

[Roy]

Best verify the electricals work as intended. It's always a drag, when something dissolves your insulation unexpectedly.

[G3750]

George, any plans to advertise your poles on the OGR forum?

Absolutely! What a great idea!

But first, I've got to finish my 200 page manual for them.

George

[G3750]

Best verify the electricals work as intended. It's always a drag, when something dissolves your insulation unexpectedly.

Roy, that's a great point! I am going to test them all again to make sure the putty didn't hammer them.

Thank you.

George

[jlong]

George, any plans to advertise your poles on the OGR forum?

Absolutely! What a great idea!

But first, I've got to finish my 200 page manual for them.

George

Great! I'll supply the popcorn.

[G3750]

Updated 5/7/2014:

With the buzz of April's York meet and the PRRT&HS Annual Meeting winding down, it's time to take stock of Panhandle projects:

• I managed to pick up another N6B cabin car at the York meet.
  

  

  York_4_14_01_.JPG (49.31 KiB) Viewed 3885 times

• Found a Weaver PRR B60b Baggage car.
  

  

  York_042014_05_.JPG (51.19 KiB) Viewed 3884 times

• Also saw the bridge built by East Coast Enterprises - we are discussing a few details.
  

  

  York_042014_01_.JPG (61.06 KiB) Viewed 3885 times

• Found a vendor at the PRRT&HS meeting that sells PRR hairpin railing sets (for on top of the bridge)
• Met another Panhandle modeler (in HO) at the PRRT&HS meeting and exchanged some interesting information and tips for the layout.
• Picked up some more Tichy 20-pane industrial windows for my Strip Steel building.
• Finished painting all my telephone poles tonight.

That's the latest.

George

[jlong]

George, nice pick ups. How many N6B's you own now?

[G3750]

George, nice pick ups. How many N6B's you own now?

I own 3 of these cabin cars. I heard they were designed with the sloped cupolas specifically to fit inside the Gould No. 5 (and other tight) tunnels on the route.

George