What's New on the PRR Panhandle Division?

[G3750]

Updated 11/16/2015:

Got back in touch with the artist. She's coming to paint another backdrop on Saturday. That will #1; she already did the center one, #3. No. 1 will look roughly like this:

Backdrop #1 v001.jpg (44.67 KiB) Viewed 3277 times

I roughed out the dimensions of the major landscape items on a prepared 4' x 8' piece of masonite.

I also cleaned up a bit from the weekend's efforts.

Later in the week I plan to start on the river module.

George

[G3750]

Updated 10/15/2015:

Cleats, risers, and subroadbed are now firmly in place at the Western end of the layout. Also did a test placement of the tunnel portal.

W_Rebuild_19_.JPG (43.95 KiB) Viewed 3261 times

W_Rebuild_20_.JPG (40.67 KiB) Viewed 3262 times

Just after this photo was taken, I added another cleat/riser near the Euro-style terminal strip.

I've decided that it will be easier if Backdrop #1 (against the western wall) and Backdrop #2 (edge flush with western wall) are installed prior to my rebuilding the roadbed and track.

George

[healey36]

George, sometime when you have a moment, post another layout diagram with the track scheme detailed (if you have one). Trying to follow the construction/deconstruction/reconstruction...are those storage tracks a level beneath the current workspace?

Healey

[G3750]

George, sometime when you have a moment, post another layout diagram with the track scheme detailed (if you have one). Trying to follow the construction/deconstruction/reconstruction...are those storage tracks a level beneath the current workspace?

Healey

Hi Healey!

Yes, those tracks belong to a hidden storage yard under the western end (left side) of the layout.

v226 PRR Panhandle - Hidden Storage Yard.jpg (30.61 KiB) Viewed 3249 times

The yard lead is on the eastern end (right side) of the layout. It is reached through Weirton Steel. Here's the rest of the layout. The districts are color-coded. District 1 is undergoing the rebuild. District 5 is somewhat affected as well.

v226 PRR Panhandle Track Plan - Annotated.jpg (193.99 KiB) Viewed 3246 times

George

[rogruth]

George,

That should keep you busy for a while.
I was confused as to the location of
the storage tracks but think I've got it now.

Where will the Ohio River bridge be located?

[G3750]

George,

That should keep you busy for a while.
I was confused as to the location of
the storage tracks but think I've got it now.

Where will the Ohio River bridge be located?

It certainly has kept me busy.

The storage yard is directly below Steubenville (the western side of the layout). It is reached via a long yard lead that descends across the back of the layout. The entrance to the lead is through Weirton Steel (on the extreme right hand side of the layout). See that spur curving to the left near the "7"? That's the yard lead; I don't show the run across the back of the layout on either diagram.

The Ohio River bridge is located at the middle of the folded dog-bone. It's to the right of the number "4" on the plan. Look at the 9/25/2015 update on page 54. The 2nd or 3rd photo shows the location of the bridge - it's to the right of the PRR signal bridge. Also, the 10/7/2015 update shows some ribbing on the floor. That's the Ohio River surface module. The bridge will be installed above it. Hope that helps.

I am getting enthusiastic again about the layout. We are making real progress. The quality of the new sub-roadbed in encouraging; I feel comfortable that smooth operations will be the result.

Backdrops #1, #2, and #3 are going to be installed prior to the restoration of track and roadbed on the western end of the layout.

I don't have access to it right now, but when I get home this evening I will try to post a track plan with some of the major landscape items on it.

George

[healey36]

Thanks George...helps to keep the photographs in perspective when visualizing the entire layout. Looks good...can't wait for the transition to scenery construction.

Healey

[G3750]

Thanks George...helps to keep the photographs in perspective when visualizing the entire layout. Looks good...can't wait for the transition to scenery construction.

Healey

Thanks Healey!

I'm really looking forward to scenery and building construction. Once backdrops 1-3 are in, the bridge is in, and we've re-driven the golden spike, my immediate focus will be on running trains.

After that, the projects become a little more manageable (although there are a large number of them).

George

[rogruth]

My thanks also.

[G3750]

Updated 11/18/2015:

Last night's effort was centered around a minor cleaning of the train room in preparation for the artist on Saturday. I put away tools, stored extra boards, and generally cleaned up.

The other task, in the spirit of "measure twice and cut once", was a re-check of the calculations for changing the river surface module. As you may recall, this module must be elevated a bit more so that the bridge piers actually make contact with the bridge. They will not be bearing much, if any, of the bridge's weight, but they have to look good.

I found some 1/8" thick black rubber washers (spacers) that I'm going to place between the painted river surface and the glass "water". The glass is difficult to slide across the painted Masonite without rubbing paint off. The washers might also add some visual depth or at least create an optical illusion to the effect. I added the spacers to the height calculations and re-checked everything. I will re-check again tonight.

George

[healey36]

Sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing photographs of the "water", which can be so tough to simulate, and you're going to have a big swath of it. Hoping to learn a thing or two.

Healey

[G3750]

Sounds good. I'm looking forward to seeing photographs of the "water", which can be so tough to simulate, and you're going to have a big swath of it. Hoping to learn a thing or two.

Healey

I will definitely post photos of the water, but it will most likely be awhile until that happens. My checklist / set of steps for this part of the layout exceeds 50 and I'm only at the beginning.

My re-check last night confirmed my re-calculated figures were correct. Nonetheless, I'm going to a friend's house tonight to get yet another pair of eyes on the height calculations.

George

[G3750]

Updated 11/22/2015:

"The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry" - Robert Burns

And thus it was this weekend. Life intervened and no work got done on the layout.

On a bright note, I did get to take my grandson (2.5 years old) to the Toy Train Museum in Strasburg. He absolutely loved it! We also drove through the grounds of the Caboose Motel and past the Strasburg Railroad (Thomas was in town) and the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania. He also likes the Amish horses and buggies.

It was a pretty awesome Saturday afternoon.

George

[G3750]

This was last Saturday afternoon - at the Toy Train Museum with the 1st grandchild, Braxton.

Braxton_01_.JPG (38.51 KiB) Viewed 3106 times

Braxton_03_.JPG (33.09 KiB) Viewed 3106 times

Braxton_04_.JPG (38.51 KiB) Viewed 3106 times

I love the look of pure joy on his face.

George

[rogruth]

YES!!!!!