@G3750 posted:

There have been some developments with the cat gate.  Maggie pulled the goalie and scored with seconds left in the 3rd period.  We are now in sudden death overtime. 

George

The plot of the game changes

Final Victory is MINE!!!!

  Today I implemented a better technology.  

The mounted and installed baby gate initially worked, but because I had to install a hanging masonite flap underneath it (the gate mounting hardware had to be high enough to clear the baseboards), she could still get past it. Friday I picked up some clear lexan sheet, drilled holes in it, and used zip-ties to mount it over the gate.

Look at the photos. Maggie came over, checked out the gate, and realized it's "game over".

You can see the lexan sheet.  This is the view from down the stairs looking upward.

Here's Maggie checking it out.  "Is there a way around this?"  "Hey, what changed since I was last here?"  

Finally, here's Maggie turning away defeated.  YES!!!!!

The solution cost me about $110 (installed heavy-duty baby gate, lexan, zip-ties) but saved hundreds (no door or dry-wall work) and resulted in a happy spouse (pleased with the solution), a safe layout, and a safe cat (no option to eat something poisonous).  And the basement stairs and layout are also safe from the grandchild.  That's a win-win-win!

Final Score (OT):   George 3  Cat 2

George

George, money well spent!  I can read Maggie’s mind in that last photograph

@Mark Boyce posted:

George, money well spent!  I can read Maggie’s mind in that last photograph

  Oh, yeah.  So can I, so can I. 

George

Great solution George. I stumbled across some lady on YouTube that puts her cats to an obstacle course challenge which seems somewhat cruel. She puts up barriers of varying degree(not harmful) some time before feeding them. The cats work their way about to try and get to where the food is. It was nutty to watch as I was trying to figure out what the whole thing was about. Needless to say, I didn't watch any more of her videos.

@Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:

Great solution George. I stumbled across some lady on YouTube that puts her cats to an obstacle course challenge which seems somewhat cruel. She puts up barriers of varying degree(not harmful) some time before feeding them. The cats work their way about to try and get to where the food is. It was nutty to watch as I was trying to figure out what the whole thing was about. Needless to say, I didn't watch any more of her videos.

Thank you.  Necessity is the mother of invention.  Installing a door would have been very expensive, taken a long time, and been a major hassle.  This seems to be working out great.  I'm much relieved by this as well.

George

Updated 05/25/2021:

For the past two weeks things have been on hold as I have dealt with the end of the academic semester, constructed the "cat prevention door", and tried to acquire more HO Albion Catalog houses.  I called more than a dozen hobby shops before finally speaking with the manufacturer and ordering 3 more of the houses.  Unfortunately, it’s going to be at least a 2 month delay before they are produced;  they are absolutely swamped.  But that’s a good thing for the industry.

All this has caused me to re-evaluate and re-prioritize what projects should get my attention.  Here they are (in rough order of importance):

1. Clean up the workshop so that more modeling can take place
2. Weirton Steel caboose for an upcoming NMRA contest (needs decals, assembly and weathering)
3. Finalize the Weirton East End interlocking circuit
4. Complete line poles and “H” fixtures for the Eastern Approach to the bridge
5. Install conduit across the face of the stone arch
6. Install scenery from Pier 2 to the stone arch including the pond and Eastern Approach hillside

The above is the tip of the iceberg; the entire "to-do" list is pretty large. 

More when I know it. 

George

Your long list makes me feel calmer about my own list haha

Will the conduit installs be similar to what you did on the big bridge?

@BillYo414 posted:

Your long list makes me feel calmer about my own list haha

Will the conduit installs be similar to what you did on the big bridge?

Bill, if I posted the entire "To Do" list, I would depress myself. 

By the way, I am convinced that model railroading is just a side-line.  Making lists is my real hobby. 

The conduit is intended to look like this (minus the 1966 Batman TV camera angle ), and be on the south side of the bridge as depicted in "Crossroads of Commerce".  The conduit in the photos dates from the 1980s (Conrail era).

George

Yes. Hence my lack of a list. That's why I have some of some buildings done haha

That conduit will look cool. Those details add so much to a layout.

Updated 6/4/2021:

A new pair of locomotives join the roster on the Panhandle.  Lionel PRR E-7 A-As 5900 & 5901 will be tasked with pulling the pride of the Panhandle, The Spirit of St. Louis.  These beauties are Legacy equipped with dual fan smoke units.  I picked them up today at Hobby Express.

More when I know it! 

George

Daaaaaaang look at them puppies!!

@BillYo414 posted:

Daaaaaaang look at them puppies!!

Thems ain't puppies.  Thems greyhounds! 

George

@G3750 posted:

Final Victory is MINE!!!!

  Today I implemented a better technology.  

The mounted and installed baby gate initially worked, but because I had to install a hanging masonite flap underneath it (the gate mounting hardware had to be high enough to clear the baseboards), she could still get past it. Friday I picked up some clear lexan sheet, drilled holes in it, and used zip-ties to mount it over the gate.

Look at the photos. Maggie came over, checked out the gate, and realized it's "game over".

You can see the lexan sheet.  This is the view from down the stairs looking upward.

Here's Maggie checking it out.  "Is there a way around this?"  "Hey, what changed since I was last here?"  

Finally, here's Maggie turning away defeated.  YES!!!!!

The solution cost me about $110 (installed heavy-duty baby gate, lexan, zip-ties) but saved hundreds (no door or dry-wall work) and resulted in a happy spouse (pleased with the solution), a safe layout, and a safe cat (no option to eat something poisonous).  And the basement stairs and layout are also safe from the grandchild.  That's a win-win-win!

Final Score (OT):   George 3  Cat 2

George

George what are you going to do when Maggie figures out she can jump up on the banister to the open stair well and then just jump down to the stairs!

Ron

@PRRronbh posted:

George what are you going to do when Maggie figures out she can jump up on the banister to the open stair well and then just jump down to the stairs!

Ron

Excellent question:

1. So far, she hasn't.
2. There are a number of locomotives in the basement with very loud horns / whistles (didn't work on Pumpkin but might work on scare-dy cat Maggie).
3. I've still got some lexan sheet so it will get installed there.

I am prepared for that move, if it comes. 

George

@G3750 posted:

Thems ain't puppies.  Thems greyhounds! 

George

We need some video to really get a feel for their performance haha

@BillYo414 posted:

We need some video to really get a feel for their performance haha

I agree, but I don't have enough room for them yet (they're on the eastbound track for a reason).  Instead, how about a few stills with The Spirit of St. Louis?

George

@G3750 posted:

I agree, but I don't have enough room for them yet (they're on the eastbound track for a reason).  Instead, how about a few stills with The Spirit of St. Louis?

George

You know what, I've always enjoyed the artwork from the old advertisements of yesteryears long past. I believe my Uncle Dick used to have some old magazines with other diesel engines looking like the wicked E7 does in this last picture George. Recently I've seen some of the old poster art(or remakes) from the real railroads, that triggers that old memory in me. Every time I go to a show and see some of those that have been painted or such, takes me back there.

That's some kind of scene!! I hope I get to see that awesome bridge in person someday.

@BillYo414 posted:

That's some kind of scene!! I hope I get to see that awesome bridge in person someday.

That is the plan, Bill!

George

Wow. Amazing layout work so far. Keep it up. Also the gate to keep the cat from ruining the layout is a purr-fect idea. Potential cat-tastrophe averted. Ha ha.

Updated 6/18/2021:

I've been taking a little side project - a Weirton Steel caboose.  As you probably know, steel mill rolling stock are some of the dirtiest and most poorly maintained equipment on rails.  Sloppy or no paint jobs, high heat, and exposure to corrosive agents are all part of a day’s work.  Below is Weirton Steel (WSX) caboose #4, a Pennsy N5 originally acquired for its scrap value but converted to slag run service.  It was used on the end of slag car trains for the 3-mile run between the blast furnaces and the dump at Standard Slag.  The model started out as an O scale undecorated Weaver Northeastern style caboose.  I walled over the inner 2 windows to make it look more like an N5, spray painted it Columbia Gas Meter green (the Weirton Steel livery from the 1940s-1980s), applied home made logo decals and dry transfer numbers, and heavily weathered the body and trucks to reflect years of service and neglect.

George

@G3750 posted:

Below is Weirton Steel (WSX) caboose #4, a Pennsy N5 originally acquired for its scrap value but converted to slag run service.

Boy if that isn't a steel industry strategy right there haha

Did they run this after the slag cars?

It looks great!! Excellent job on the weathering!

@BillYo414 posted:

Boy if that isn't a steel industry strategy right there haha

Did they run this after the slag cars?

It looks great!! Excellent job on the weathering!

Yes, these would be on the end of slag trains.

Thank you!

George

Updated 7/1/2021:

Not a whole lot has been happening since I last updated this thread:

• The Weirton Steel caboose is finished and has taken its place in the Staging Area.
• My attention has been focused on debugging the East End interlocking circuit.  This set of signals protects the exit to Weirton Steel Yard and the westbound mainline where they come together just before the approach to the bridge.

• I also started decaling and weathering a crane truck for Weirton Steel.  It will be getting a Crow River electromagnet.

More when I know it. 

George

That's an awesome crane truck. That magnet looks just like the real thing!

@BillYo414 posted:

That's an awesome crane truck. That magnet looks just like the real thing!

Thank you!  Lionel did 2 models based on P&H prototypes - one crane truck and one shovel.  The kits are available on eBay and elsewhere and work standalone or as flatcar loads.  They are very accurate, except for that silly circle "L" logo on the steam shovel.    I ended up sanding that off and covering the area with a panel (as if it had rusted). 

The magnet is from Crow River (part #O-49?) and it's a dead ringer for the ones I saw as a crane-boy at Weirton in the 1970's.  I ordered a button style magnet from somewhere and stuck it to the bottom in the opening provided and now the thing works, too.

George

I didn't even realize that's a Lionel model but I see it now. That's cool that you were able to make it work!

Updated 7/16/2021:

I am back on track and working on a number of efforts for the Panhandle.  First, with the help of a friend, I have been trying to complete a circuit that will create an interlocking.  That's been a tough nut to crack, but we're making progress.

I am also working on adding Pennsy hairpin railings to the approach spans of the bridge.  I ordered some O-scale versions of these from Shapeways.com a long time back.  Last week I discovered that I didn’t have enough of them to finish the project.  Fortunately, I found the old order and re-upped for another 10.  They arrived today, but 3 of the 10 were broken and have to be replaced.

I acquired 2 Packard automobiles for use in a building that used to stand at the corner of County Road and Main Street in Weirton.  The structure was called (because of its shape) the Triangle building.  It housed a restaurant, cleaners, drapery shop, Western Union, and a Packard dealership.  While I don’t have plans, I do have some photos and rough measurements of the lot.  So all of that has gone into a newly established project box.

I am researching an animation project using an Arduino and LEDs.  I am in the process of teaching myself the "C" programming language and working through some of the simpler Arduino C programming examples.

I am still waiting on the Albion Catalog houses for the Steubenville hillside (Superior & Highland) behind the PRR station.

Finally, I managed to get some workshop re-organization done.  I have re-packaged some of the detail parts boxes into smaller, more specific bins.  These have been labeled.  I also cleared off one of the wire shelves, moving some unused items into the closet.  All my small drawer cabinets have come off the wire shelves and are now stacked about 4’ high.  This gives me more shelf space.

More when I know it. 

George

George,

That's a hefty list, not in terms of numbers, but effort needed.  The buildings aren't that much of an issue.  Interlocking, learning some "C" and Arduino, redding up the workshop!!  It makes me tired to even think of it!    I hope you are able to share some of the results of your efforts soon!

Nice!! That's progress!! I'll be excited to see what you do with the Arduino. Simulated iron/steel flow is on my wish list. Keep us posted!

Updated 7/22/2021:

Work continues on the interlocking circuit, but that's been tough sledding.

However, we have made some progress on O-scale Pennsy hairpin railings.

In the first two photos they are on the workbench while I try to determine what needs to go where to cover everything.

Here's a closer view of a stretch that's been installed.  The gray item in the foreground is a conduit holder.

Here's a longer stretch across the back of the bridge (make my mistakes there rather than in the foreground. )

More when I know it. 

George

George, The photographs of the finished railing look great!

@Mark Boyce posted:

George, The photographs of the finished railing look great!

Thank you, Mark!  We're only about 30% done.  I hope to finish that today.

The PRR handrails are from a vendor on Shapeways.com.  They are a bit fragile and you have to cut and glue them together, but at least you can readily get your hands on them.  There is someone who makes them in brass, but he's not on-line.

George

Updated 7/23/2021:

I managed to get the PRR hairpin railings installed on the eastern approach spans.  Then it was time to run a few trains and get some photos.  Below we see the eastbound Spirit of St. Louis, led by 2 Lionel E7s and pulling 4 18" K-Line passenger cars.  The westbound ore train (empties) features double-headed I1s 2-10-0 Decapods (3rd Rail).

More when I know it.

George

Updated 7/24/2021:

As reported in its separate thread and courtesy of Bob Bartizek, the interlocking circuit and signals where the Weirton Steel Yard joins the westbound mainline are now working!!!  Video below!

This is a huge thing, as it allows me to finish some scenery on the Eastern Approach.

More when I know it. 

George

Looking good!!

Updated 7/28/2021:

Over the past few days I got a few things accomplished:

• I fixed (re-planted) some of the trees Maggie the cat uprooted a few months back.
• I finished installing PRR hairpin railing on the bridge. The western approach span is finished.
• With the help of another friend, there are now 3 trains (TMCC lash-ups) on the Panhandle:
  • Train 3: Lionel E7 A-A pair
  • Train 4: 3^rd Rail Decapods 4235 and 4668
  • Train 5: Two (2) Williams K4s 3750 & 3750 (eventually I want to renumber these for Panhandle locos)

More when I know it. 

George

It’s really looking great, George!!  Sounds like nice trains!

@Mark Boyce posted:

It’s really looking great, George!!  Sounds like nice trains!

Thanks Mark!  I am thinking:

• The E7s will pull the Spirit of St. Louis (naturally!)
• The Decapods will haul ore trains to Weirton Steel
• The K4s will probably pull an express mail train

George