What's New on the PRR Panhandle Division?

[G3750]

Ah ha! I always suspected that about polka dots, but couldn't quite put it to words.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bpb2Aug3mgc

Have pizzazz!

That's funny! I saw the ad during the super bowl, but didn't put 2 and 2 together.

George

[G3750]

Updated 2/10/2016:

OK, the jigsaw puzzle continues. Given the way the game turned out, I should have just stayed in the train room and worked.

I'm making slow progress piecing together a sub-roadbed around the Coal Mine Spur.

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Next step will be to re-align the Vinylbed and fasten everything down around the curve.

George

[G3750]

One of the (only) positive aspects of this re-do is that the two tracks (mainline and coal mine spur) will be closer together and have a smaller height difference. I need to map out the position of the highway crossings and determine road locations relative to the tracks. That will help me decide the sizes of the sub-roadbed pieces as well.

George

[G3750]

Updated 2/17/2016:

Got parts of the new roadbed and track for the Coal Mine Spur laid tonight. You can see the old sub-roadbed on the inside of the curve.

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George

[rogruth]

George,

I wondered why we hadn't seen your telephone poles.
Now I know. Got OST yesterday. Very nice.
Waiting to see them on the layout.

[G3750]

George,

I wondered why we hadn't seen your telephone poles.
Now I know. Got OST yesterday. Very nice.
Waiting to see them on the layout.

Thanks Roger! There are two modules that will hold the telephone poles. One is half-built and the other is in the concept phase; I've designed it, but not started building. As for OST, I haven't seen my copy yet.

George

[G3750]

Got my copy of OST in the mail yesterday. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

George

[G3750]

Updated 2/21/2016:

Despite a crazy weekend watching the grandson (he's a pistol ), I did manage to get something done.

• I fastened down all the curved track sections for the Coal Mine Spur, including installing power / ground feeders as the wire for the insulated control rail. I had to add a riser and long cleat to support the final transition between sub-roadbeds as the Coal Mine Spur heads toward Switch No. 1. Here's a sequence of photos from the No. 2 Switch (near the tipple) towards Switch No. 1 where the spur meets the mainline.
  
  

  

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• The next focus was on the mainline south from Switch No. 3 (the one that will be in the tunnel ). I added a curved O54 section, an insulated pin (creating an insulated rail), and power/ground connectors to the feeder wires. I also added a wire for the insulated rail and a long straight. In the process, I computed and marked the location of the tunnel portal. Photos below.
  
  

  

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George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Got my copy of OST in the mail yesterday. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

George

That's good to hear!

[G3750]

Updated 2/24/2016:

Made a little more progress tonight.

• Tested the tunnel portal clearance. We're good.
• Got a short straight and the first O54 curved piece installed, including 3/8" Vinylbed. The blue wire is there to provide super elevation. Also installed another insulating pin. The isolated block of track will be used to activate the crossing signals. The last piece of curved track is only there for test-fitting purposes.
  

  

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• Laid out the positions of the PRR signal, Imperial Hotel, 4th Street crossing, and DZ-1020 crossing signal. These are marked on the table top but probably not visible in the photo. The PRR signal will be planted in the backyard of the hotel, a forlorn totem visible out the back window of the flop-house. This is the area being discussed.

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George

[Steamfan77]

Good to see you're making progress George. I like the changes, and I think you'll benefit greatly when you operate. Keep it up.

Andy

[G3750]

Good to see you're making progress George. I like the changes, and I think you'll benefit greatly when you operate. Keep it up.

Andy

Thank you, I do too. And I think I will have a much more stable roadbed and track.

In looking over the layout just now and doing more test fitting, I noticed that I will have to cut some partial curved pieces to get everything to fit with the bridge approach. When I originally planned the layout (in the previous house), it was to be 22.5' x 10'. I had to cut 4' off it; I didn't think it would work in the available space. Right now, I am using the flexibility of GarGraves track to achieve a fit. It will be tight.

George

[G3750]

Updated 2/25/2016:

I've been doing some mental thrashing around on how best to install the bridge. Here's the current thinking out loud:

• I am going to start the installation of the bridge from the Weirton (eastern) side. This is the more accurate and stable approach to the bridge (track spacing, orientation).
• I'm probably going to prop up the bridge on 3' step ladders, lower the Weirton side to the correct spot, and then fasten in place. Track installation, installation of wiring, and adjustments will be next.
• The Steubenville (western) side will follow. That will firmly anchor the positions of the western tracks departing the bridge. Wiring and adjustments will be made.
• With Switch No. 1 in place, connections to the mainline and to the Coal Mine Spur will be completed.
• Testing of electronics (signaling, switch operation) will take place. After that we will run locomotives and adjust track and roadbed as necessary.
• Finally, major train running will take place, some of it at speed.

I think this will work.

George

[G3750]

Updated 2/28/2016:

It's been a long weekend in which I (in order) worked on the western re-alignment, considered abandoning model railroading to pursue stamp collecting, and worked on the eastern bridge approach.

For the Western Re-alignment, I re-did the track alignment in order to get it to fit (this must be the 3rd time ). Below you can see the changes I was about to make (move the roadbed to fit the track).

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By doing that, I was able to fix all the issues you see above. I now think the mainline track will mate up correctly with Switch No. 1. However, it was quite a major PITA and it made me re-think the choice of track for the next layout.

After convincing myself that things were OK on the eastern approach, I decided that I'd better inspect it closely. Wrong! There was a track spacing issue (too wide). Since Switch No. 8 and the Hidden Passing Siding were basically immovable, that left the Eastbound mainline to be re-aligned. Fortunately, that was quick work (see below). Before...

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The position of the tracks, now 4 5/8" center-to-center, was altered by adding 1" to the length of straight above. That pushed the track closer to Westbound mainline. Just to verify everything, I ran the M1a Mountain (my most finicky engine) along the track. Success!!!!

Finally, I measured and placed the 1 3/8" pine bridge cleat under the eastern end of the approach. A 1/4" thick piece of poplar will be attached to it to hold the bridge.

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All this work and I feel like I'm just treading water.

George

[Steamfan77]

Hi George,

I know it can seem like that sometimes, but you will enjoy a better running layout long term. If you rush the process, you will always regret it. If I might ask, what is your goal with these adjustments? Is it aesthetics, or is it more for practical reasons like track spacing, smoothness of curves, etc? Bottom line, you know your layout best, and if you want things to hit a certain standard, then so be it. You're the only one you need to satisfy. Can't speak for other folks, but I'm following your build with great interest and anticipation. Don't make yourself nuts, this is supposed to be "fun"

Andy