What's New on the PRR Panhandle 2.0?

[rogruth]

George,
You refer to that particular pier as a "pocket pier".
Is that because of the way that part of the bridge fits down into the pier?
The bridge sits on top of the other piers.
I didn't say that very well.

[G3750]

George,
You refer to that particular pier as a "pocket pier".
Is that because of the way that part of the bridge fits down into the pier?
The bridge sits on top of the other piers.
I didn't say that very well.

Yes Roger, I guess that's my name for it. Not knowing what else to call it, I've used that term. I have no idea if that is what it is actually called. The April 2, 1927 Railway Age article refers to "pockets" within several of the piers needed to carry the 2nd bridge while the 3rd (current) is erected. Your question prompted me to re-read the article and hence forward, I will refer to the piers accurately by their correct designations. Those are (proceeding east to west):

• Pier 1, the "shorty" pier. The different appearance as well as the photograph below leads me to believe that this pier as well as the stone arch are part of the second bridge (1888). Heck, the arch might even be part of the first bridge (1868).
  

  

  Panhandle RR Iron Bridge.jpg (1.18 MiB) Viewed 3804 times

  
  
• Pier 2, a "pocket" pier. The article refers to this as "New Pier 2", indicating that it was replaced in the building of the current bridge
• East Channel pier, which I have referred to as a "mid-stream" pier. This was a new pier required for the current bridge.
• West Channel pier, which I have referred to as a "mid-stream" pier. This was also a new pier required for the current bridge.
• Pier 7, a "pocket" pier. The article refers to this as "New Pier 7", indicating that it was replaced in the building of the current bridge

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Rogers, thanks for leading me to revisit the article.

George

[chuck]

Reading the article, it seems the new/last bridge was actually built around the older unit so the old bridge could be used while the new one was constructed. In fact, spans one and two and most of span 8 are actually from the second version of the bridge. Some of the "odd" structural elements are from having to cary over the old bridge while building the new one, particularly at new piers 2 and 7 where old meets new. The other fascinating part is that the new main span piers were "finished" by pouring additional concrete in the area between the support columns after the old under truss elements were removed. That may also have affected those areas appearance in terms of weathering. If you look closely you can see the plug lines on those center span piers. Very interesting feat of engineering.

[G3750]

Reading the article, it seems the new/last bridge was actually built around the older unit so the old bridge could be used while the new one was constructed. In fact, spans one and two and most of span 8 are actually from the second version of the bridge. Some of the "odd" structural elements are from having to cary over the old bridge while building the new one, particularly at new piers 2 and 7 where old meets new. The other fascinating part is that the new main span piers were "finished" by pouring additional concrete in the area between the support columns after the old under truss elements were removed. That may also have affected those areas appearance in terms of weathering. If you look closely you can see the plug lines on those center span piers. Very interesting feat of engineering.

That's exactly right. Traffic was disrupted for a total of 8 hours during the cutover.

The construction of this bridge really is an amazing feat of engineering, but not completely unheard of. Ken Kobus and Jack Consoli wrote a book called "The Pennsylvania Railroad's Golden Triangle" in 1998. In it (about page 33) they detailed the construction (replacement of) the Ohio Connecting Railway bridge. The Pennsy did the same thing, built a new bridge around the old one in 94 days. The work was again performed by American Bridge.

George

[G3750]

Updated 10/6/2016:

My work on the East Channel, West Channel and Pier 2 continues. I am using a Sharpie to inscribe lines on these piers. I am also in the process of installing lights in these piers. Here's a photo showing the installation of the navigation light as well as the supports for the pier floor (Pier 2).

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It's also time to start test-fitting the Steubenville truss (Span #8) to the main span. First let's look at the main span sitting atop Pier 7.

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Here are both spans being supported by Pier 7.

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This is a shot from beneath the bridge. Note the bridge shoes / pedestals supporting the truss in the middle of the "pocket".

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I must say that I am pretty happy with how this turned out. Even the coloration and weathering of the pier looks pretty good to me.

George

[rogruth]

Yes. Coming along nicely.

[G3750]

Yes. Coming along nicely.

Thanks. I am encouraged by what I've done so far.

George

[rogruth]

Yes. Coming along nicely.

Thanks. I am encouraged by what I've done so far.

George

And you should be.
We have done and are doing different things with our layouts. Mine gives a representation of stuff in my past but very generalized.
Your layout shows very specific things from your past in great detail. I feel sure when your layout is "finished" I will be able to look
at it and say I know where that is/was.

[G3750]

Yes. Coming along nicely.

Thanks. I am encouraged by what I've done so far.

George

And you should be.
We have done and are doing different things with our layouts. Mine gives a representation of stuff in my past but very generalized.
Your layout shows very specific things from your past in great detail. I feel sure when your layout is "finished" I will be able to look
at it and say I know where that is/was.

Thanks Roger. I hope that comes true much, much sooner than later.

[J. S. Bach]

We have done and are doing different things with our layouts. Mine gives a representation of stuff in my past but very generalized.

Roger,
You need to post some photos of yours. I have seen it and it is every bit as good as Frank53's was. I wish that I had taken some when I was there. I do remember the "The Flying Yankee Down in Dixie" thread, but it was too short.

[rogruth]

Dave,
Thanks for the kind words. Most of my older photos were lost with a computer quitting. I, unfortuately, have none of the Yankee in Dixie.
I do need to take some new photos and will try to post some in the near future.

[rogruth]

George,
Except for the river, looking upstream under the bridge looks like looking upstream under the bridge. Wow!

[G3750]

George,
Except for the river, looking upstream under the bridge looks like looking upstream under the bridge. Wow!

Thanks! That was the objective. And eventually, I hope to have the river looking like itself.

I can still remember that boat trip. The water was like glass, the weather was hot, and it was all I could do not to jump in! In fact, it was just about this time 1 year ago.

George

[G3750]

Updated 10/9/2018:

I'm working on a few things:

• I painted the tops of the three mid-stream piers (East Channel, West Channel, Pier 7) and top of the "shorty" pier (Pier 2). These got an aged iron textured paint that reflects the soot and cinders covering the tops of the prototypes.
• I've studied the photographs of the three mid-stream piers and decided to simply accent the rings with a Sharpie, apply a gray wash in certain areas, and accent with a rust wash (#13). I'm hoping to get to those later today and tomorrow.
• I took Roger's advice (thank you!!) about the C&P River Route having lots of bi-directional traffic and decided to:
  • Add a long passing siding inside the tunnel to store a 2nd train. Trains will run in both directions on this loop. Yes, I know I am violating one of my lessons learned. And yes, there will have to be easy access and / or a way to see or know the positions of trains.
  • Signal the route in both directions. I am also considering how best to indicate occupancy of the siding and turnout positions.
• I conducted a physical inventory of my old switches from Panhandle 1 (most of which I am reusing) and the new Ross Switches I've acquired in the past year. I have identified a pair that I am selling (Curtis RH 11 degree turnouts with DZ-2500 switch machines) and two others that I need to get. Even though we are probably months away from laying track, I have staged the switches below the west (Steubenville) end of the bench work. All switches were compared against the track plan and received their number (a blue sticky note).

Switches_001_.JPG (158.39 KiB) Viewed 3698 times

George

[G3750]

Updated 10/10/2018:

For all intents and purposes, Pier 7 (the Steubenville side “pocket” pier) is complete. I have it sitting on the layout holding up the point where the deck truss meets the main span. Eventually, I will move it and the bridge spans approximately 3” to the left (west) to mate up with the western abutment. That exact geometry is yet to be finalized.

Yesterday, I painted all the pier tops with Rustoleum #223535 Aged Iron.

Today, the remaining piers (West Channel, East Channel, Pier 2) finally got all their rings delineated with an Ultra-Fine tipped Sharpie. Then I sprayed the underlying color, Rustoleum #249065 Satin Strawflower, into a small paper cup and touched up the mistakes with a brush. Once these get their gray wash (dirt) and rust spot markings, I don’t think the minute imperfections will be noticeable.
Here are the West Channel Pier, East Channel Pier, Pier 2, and Pier 1 with accompanying photos of their prototypes.

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I managed to time this one. I am touching up the ring on a pocket pier.

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Here’s Pier 1 (the shorty) with its ring painted gray. This was applied with a spray can – Krylon #53574 Matte Deep Gray.

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Pier 2’s top ring was brushed with Darice #10120 Dark Gray. The tops of the piers are not yet fitted in place, but the lights have been installed.

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The East Channel Pier had its top ring painted with Ceramcoat #02543 Rain Gray. The pier top is being test fit. Lights have yet to be installed.

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The West Channel Pier also had its top ring painted with Ceramcoat #02543 Rain Gray. The pier top is being test fit. Lights have yet to be installed.

Piers_050_.JPG (151.1 KiB) Viewed 3669 times

I hope to get to the gray wash and rust for the piers tomorrow.

George