Sneak Peak: Preliminary track plan for PRR Panhandle 2.0

[G3750]

Updated 2/6/2017:

So while posting and activity on the PRR Panhandle thread has subsided for the near future, I have been busy with the track plan for PRR Panhandle 2.0. Several things have happened to influence my thinking:

• The Kalmbach publication Model Railroad Planning 2017 became available recently and I had a chance to study Neal Schorr's Middle Division layout (as well as visit it). In the rural areas (particularly the WV approach to the bridge), I want to model the mainline more prototypically. That will mean planning for line poles, culverts, an underpass, and the adherence to a slightly elevated (on a fill) mainline with a 2:3 (rise to run) slope.
• My bridge supplier came back with preliminary drawings on the approach spans. The possible lengths of these spans will influence the track placement.

Based on the above, I am going to create a side view drawing of the entire bridge span to determine what looks right (proportionally). I want to see what the overall length turns out to be. A double-check of actual measurements would seem to be in order.

Right now, it's looking as if I will straighten out the entire mainline run (with the bridge) on the back wall and position it on a slight 5-10 degree angle from the wall (not parallel). The mainline will be closer to the back wall on the right (Weirton side) and farther away on the left (Steubenville side).

If time permits, I will create and post all the changed drawings, but this tells you my thinking.

George

[rogruth]

George,
I'm sure you know that the Panhandle on the bridge passed over the C&P division that followed the river. There were some interesting movements here.
A train coming out of the Mingo yards going up the river just moved straight up the river. A train going to Pittsburgh, crossing the river, went north until the caboose cleared a crossover then back on to the Panhandle before continuing. The front would be in Stuebenville and the end near Mingo. The whole train had to back past the crossover before going on. A train coming from the west on the Panhandle going to the yards pulled into Steubenville before backing down to the yard. A westbound Panhandle train needed to pull past MIngo, back up to Steubenville until clearing the crossover. I hope you get the idea. In the 1950s a connection from the yards to the Panhandle wasmade that avoided some of this. It might be possible to show the C&P track under the bridge and use it some way or make it a dummy track as so many in smaller scales do.The 1950s in the Upper Ohio Valley was a great place to watch or ride trains.

[G3750]

George,
I'm sure you know that the Panhandle on the bridge passed over the C&P division that followed the river. There were some interesting movements here.
A train coming out of the Mingo yards going up the river just moved straight up the river. A train going to Pittsburgh, crossing the river, went north until the caboose cleared a crossover then back on to the Panhandle before continuing. The front would be in Stuebenville and the end near Mingo. The whole train had to back past the crossover before going on. A train coming from the west on the Panhandle going to the yards pulled into Steubenville before backing down to the yard. A westbound Panhandle train needed to pull past MIngo, back up to Steubenville until clearing the crossover. I hope you get the idea. In the 1950s a connection from the yards to the Panhandle wasmade that avoided some of this. It might be possible to show the C&P track under the bridge and use it some way or make it a dummy track as so many in smaller scales do.The 1950s in the Upper Ohio Valley was a great place to watch or ride trains.

Roger,

Are your referring to the track passing under the bridge on the far side of the painting?

1953.jpg (35.07 KiB) Viewed 8868 times

Any chance you can render a drawing? This is interesting stuff!

George

[rogruth]

If the far side is Ohio that should be right.

[G3750]

It is. The far side of the river is Steubenville, OH.

[rogruth]

The painting also shows the bridge as double tracked, as I remember it.

[G3750]

The painting also shows the bridge as double tracked, as I remember it.

Yep, as it was at the time.

George

[healey36]

Hey George, does the new house dovetail with retirement?

Healey

[G3750]

Hey George, does the new house dovetail with retirement?

Healey

Yes! And not a moment too soon.

George

[healey36]

Awesome...congratulations!

Healey

[G3750]

Awesome...congratulations!

Healey

Thanks!!!!

George

[G3750]

Updated 3/2/2017:

Things are starting to heat up around here:

• Three bagsters full of junk have been thrown out, including 36 years of technical books, magazines, and manuals. Some old MRR pubs, too.
• The house has been undergoing cleaning, painting, and repair of some minor issues. It's just about to go on the market (tomorrow?).
• The moving company was by to estimate the number and size of trucks we will need. (They are packing, loading, and unloading; we are driving).
• For the new house, the organization of the workshop and its furniture has been finalized (I hope).

I'd forgotten how much fun this can all be, right Christopher?

But we are dragging the process across the finish line, kicking and screaming.

George

[Rufus T. Firefly]

[*]Three bagsters full of junk have been thrown out, including 36 years of technical books, magazines, and manuals. Some old MRR pubs, too.

Just like when I was cleaning out my office at work a few months ago - filled a recycling dumpster in the hallway 3-4 times. Amazing the stuff you accumulate and keep thinking I'll need that someday and someday never comes other than to land in the dumpster. 7 five drawer file cabinets and 3 four drawer lateral files later and I still have more to clear out........the publish and/or perish world......and we just submitted another manuscript yesterday,

[rogruth]

Rufus,
Why is "publish or perish" still important to you?

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Rufus,
Why is "publish or perish" still important to you?

Couple of reasons:

(1) still have unpublished research and until it's published, it's not really completed. Also, some of the results are rather striking.
(2) journals invite me to send them manuscripts ( every day I get several) and while most are rubbish, the really valued ones I have to at least respond to since I probably know the person(s) doing the inviting
(3) I'm still on 4-5 editorial boards and do actually work as an Editor for one journal
(4) curious to see how many peer review publications I can rack up (not really - the numbers game for me is silly stuff).
(5) - most critical - many have authorship credits of students -- they need every publication possible on their resume/CV for their careers - I have that as a very real obligation to them, and as such every manuscript with a student's name on it is one that we will publish, even if that takes place after I do retire.