What's New on the PRR Panhandle Division?

[G3750]

Williams brass B6? Nice.

Yes, sir! See photos above. Love that little engine.

George

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Sure Murph.

Thursday was somewhat lightly attended. ...
Friday was well attended and people seemed to buying with both hands. ...

I'd have to say, despite the visible aging of the attendees, the reports of York's demise are greatly exaggerated.

Hope that helps,
George

It sure does. Thank you very much, George.
Murph

[G3750]

Updated 10/25/2015:

Work proceeds on the Western mainline rebuild. Below, I'm trying to get the subroadbed to fit around the existing Coal Mine Spur track work. We are close, but I needed to take a break.

W_Rebuild_03_.JPG (36.51 KiB) Viewed 3131 times

Still got some fiddling and trimming cuts to make before it all fits.

George

[G3750]

Updated 11/1/2015:

You know when your wife says she wants to change the wall paper in powder room and it turns into a $20,000 renovation?

I don't think I'm on quite that track, but...

As I worked on the Western mainline subroadbed for the big curve around Steubenville, I noticed some deficiencies in the subroadbed that connects to it. One thing led to another, and I've decided to replace that as well.

W_Rebuild_04_.JPG (39.73 KiB) Viewed 3105 times

Actually, my reason for doing that is pretty good. It's very difficult to reach that stretch of subroadbed. And it is not well supported. It makes more sense to replace it with a correct thickness of wood, attach it to the curve, and then connect it to subroadbed in the corner. That piece is easier to reach and well supported.

George

[rogruth]

Hey George,

I'm 81 years old and really would like to see an area that I know while I can still recognize it.
Just kidding.I do want you to get it right the way YOU want it.
Looking forward to seeing it.

[G3750]

Hey George,

I'm 81 years old and really would like to see an area that I know while I can still recognize it.
Just kidding.I do want you to get it right the way YOU want it.
Looking forward to seeing it.

I know Roger, I know. I'm going in the wrong direction.

George

[G3750]

Updated 11/2/2015:

Ok, here is the layout with the last piece of bad subroadbed removed.

W_Rebuild_05_.JPG (42.67 KiB) Viewed 3078 times

George

[G3750]

Updated 11/12/2015:

It's been slow, but I finally got the cuts made on new replacement pieces of sub-roadbed. Having to re-do this piece at such a late date was a total PITA. There just isn't much room down here right now and there are finished scenery items that could get damaged.

The next time I have a crazy idea about making lightweight sub-roadbed out of thin plywood, I'm going to bang my head against the wall until a) the idea goes away or b) I pass out from loss of blood.

I still need to get this mounted on the layout, but here it is.

W_Rebuild_06_.JPG (40.57 KiB) Viewed 3041 times

I ran out of steam tonight, but hope to get this installed this weekend.

George

[rogruth]

George,
So you are still having fun.

[G3750]

George,
So you are still having fun.

Yeah I am, but I'm a bit frustrated with this set of rework. I've learned the lesson for the next time and just want to get past it. I think (key word: think) this is the last wholesale set of track rework I'll have to do. Shoot, I've rebuilt virtually the entire layout in the past 3 years.

George

[rogruth]

That's what happens when you have a good plan.

[G3750]

:lol: That's what happens when you have a good plan.

I don't think my early plans were very good. I certainly didn't get any good advice when I started building the tables and subroadbed back in 2002. I didn't have the benefit of experienced O gauge friends that I do now. So yeah, it's been trial and error.

The good news is that I learn from my mistakes.

George

[rogruth]

George,

You understood me. Guess who had the same experience.

I had nobody in the area for advice and did not know about internet forums when I started.

[G3750]

Updated 11/14/2015:

Roger, it actually took me awhile to understand you.

I finally got going this afternoon.

First, I made sure that the big curved piece of sub-roadbed fit the narrow piece that will go along the western wall. As I will have to install it separately, I added some alignment markings to make it easier to fit.

W_Rebuild_07_.JPG (40.13 KiB) Viewed 2998 times

Next step was cleat and riser construction. The larger one will support the wide part of the sub-roadbed towards the back of the layout (Northwest corner).

W_Rebuild_08_.JPG (36.98 KiB) Viewed 3000 times

Right after that, I cut spacers for the old sub-roadbed. The old sub-roadbed was 11/32" thick. In order to match up that thickness with the new 1/2" (16/32") thick sub-roadbed, I added a 1/16" (2/32") spacer and a 3/32" spacer. Remembering (and finally using) my math for fractions, we have 16/32" or 1/2" for both the new and the old sides of sub-roadbed. (Yes, there was a quiz. And I passed it!!! ) You can see the spacers just lying roughly in place.

W_Rebuild_10_.JPG (36.54 KiB) Viewed 3001 times

Glue! Has anyone actually been able to get wood glue to flow out of those twist applicator tops? Unless the bottle is brand new, for me the answer is no. I had to use a craft stick to get it out. Anyway, all the spacers are glued to the underlying 1"x4" supports. And then I threw some books on them!

W_Rebuild_12_.JPG (30.14 KiB) Viewed 3001 times

I'm going to give things a chance to dry, take a short rest, and then try to hit it again either later tonight (but the Penguins are playing) or tomorrow.

George

[G3750]

Updated 11/15/2015:

This afternoon, I managed to get the two new pieces of sub-roadbed attached to each other and to the old sub-roadbed.

Here's the first test fitting of the narrow section of new sub-roadbed to the existing piece. Note the clamp holding them together.

W_Rebuild_13_.JPG (39.13 KiB) Viewed 2975 times

Here is the entire new section clamped in place.

W_Rebuild_14_.JPG (37.67 KiB) Viewed 2976 times

Here is the clamped junction near Switch No. 1.

W_Rebuild_15_.JPG (42.76 KiB) Viewed 2976 times

This was taken just prior to lining up the narrow section with the big curved piece. Notice that they are not aligned.

W_Rebuild_16_.JPG (35.68 KiB) Viewed 2975 times

But now they are! And I drove in the screws to make it permanent.

W_Rebuild_17_.JPG (35.32 KiB) Viewed 2975 times

Here's a shot of the western side of the new area.

W_Rebuild_18_.JPG (35.43 KiB) Viewed 2978 times

I still need to screw together the area near Switch No. 1, level the whole section, and then install the risers and cleats.

More later today, perhaps.

George