PRR Panhandle 2.0

Nice size panel.

Won’t forget.  My wife is reminding me as well!  😊

@G3750 posted:

Updated 4/10/2024:

Last few days have been about the starting and stopping of various small projects.  I continue to work on a number of things, trying to move ahead.  I just haven't been making a ton of progress.  Here is some forward movement, though:

• Laid out the tower panel for the Weirton Steel Yard.  Staples came through with the lamination.  The blue circles are toggle switch locations.  The small green or yellow circles are 3mm LED locations.

• Found a dead short in Power District #7.  No damage, as a fast-acting fuse sacrificed itself.  Turns out I had made a wiring error under the layout (in the dim light).
• The PRRT&HS came out with a fabulous new book on the Panhandle.  I'm over the moon with the sections on Weirton and Steubenville.  Like the majority of stuff I've seen from the society, it's well researched.

• Have been working on the updated Open Hearth presentation for Saturday's Division 2 Model Railroad Jamboree (check out the post in the Announcements sub-forum).
• Speaking of the Open Hearth, I put together a photo-op.  WSX #208, an Alco S-2, is waiting (note signal in foreground) to lead empty torpedo cars back to the blast furnaces for more pig iron.  The switcher can't proceed until that signal on the Staging Area entry track shows STOP.

More when I know it. 

George

George is that blast furnace a model or the background?

Ron

@G3750 posted:

Updated 4/10/2024:

Last few days have been about the starting and stopping of various small projects.  I continue to work on a number of things, trying to move ahead.  I just haven't been making a ton of progress.  Here is some forward movement, though:

• Laid out the tower panel for the Weirton Steel Yard.  Staples came through with the lamination.  The blue circles are toggle switch locations.  The small green or yellow circles are 3mm LED locations.

• Found a dead short in Power District #7.  No damage, as a fast-acting fuse sacrificed itself.  Turns out I had made a wiring error under the layout (in the dim light).
• The PRRT&HS came out with a fabulous new book on the Panhandle.  I'm over the moon with the sections on Weirton and Steubenville.  Like the majority of stuff I've seen from the society, it's well researched.

• Have been working on the updated Open Hearth presentation for Saturday's Division 2 Model Railroad Jamboree (check out the post in the Announcements sub-forum).
• Speaking of the Open Hearth, I put together a photo-op.  WSX #208, an Alco S-2, is waiting (note signal in foreground) to lead empty torpedo cars back to the blast furnaces for more pig iron.  The switcher can't proceed until that signal on the Staging Area entry track shows STOP.

More when I know it. 

George

George,

Nice work happening on the layout and I'm sure your presentation will be very interesting. I met a modeler who is a steel mill guru. I plan to meet with him and see his models in the near future. How does one get a copy of that book?

Dave

@PRRronbh posted:

George is that blast furnace a model or the background?

Ron

Ron,

The blast furnaces on the divider are Weirton's.  I took that photo in 2010 and had RailroadBackdrops.com turn it into the divider.  I wish I were talented enough to model a blast furnace; the proportions in O scale are extremely tricky.

George

@luvindemtrains posted:

George,

Nice work happening on the layout and I'm sure your presentation will be very interesting. I met a modeler who is a steel mill guru. I plan to meet with him and see his models in the near future. How does one get a copy of that book?

Dave

Dave,

Thank you!

The only place to get the book is at the PRRT&HS store.  Link is https://prrths.org/content.asp...amp;module_id=488057

George

The Open Hearth looks great George.  Nicely Done. I know how much work you put into it. Beautiful.

Well done, George. See you next week.

Peter

@G3750 posted:

Updated 4/10/2024:

Last few days have been about the starting and stopping of various small projects.  I continue to work on a number of things, trying to move ahead.  I just haven't been making a ton of progress.  Here is some forward movement, though:

• Laid out the tower panel for the Weirton Steel Yard.  Staples came through with the lamination.  The blue circles are toggle switch locations.  The small green or yellow circles are 3mm LED locations.

• Found a dead short in Power District #7.  No damage, as a fast-acting fuse sacrificed itself.  Turns out I had made a wiring error under the layout (in the dim light).
• The PRRT&HS came out with a fabulous new book on the Panhandle.  I'm over the moon with the sections on Weirton and Steubenville.  Like the majority of stuff I've seen from the society, it's well researched.

• Have been working on the updated Open Hearth presentation for Saturday's Division 2 Model Railroad Jamboree (check out the post in the Announcements sub-forum).
• Speaking of the Open Hearth, I put together a photo-op.  WSX #208, an Alco S-2, is waiting (note signal in foreground) to lead empty torpedo cars back to the blast furnaces for more pig iron.  The switcher can't proceed until that signal on the Staging Area entry track shows STOP.

More when I know it. 

George

I am in love! With that open hearth model! That’s going to be absolute eye candy when finished!

also thanks for reminding me to order Conquest III! I really need to grab my own copy soon!

@Pennsy6755 posted:

I am in love! With that open hearth model! That’s going to be absolute eye candy when finished!

also thanks for reminding me to order Conquest III! I really need to grab my own copy soon!

Actually, it is (for all intents and purposes) finished.  Thank you for the kind words.

George

Updated 4/16/2024:

It has been a busy last few days.  Saturday's Division 2 Model Railroad Jamboree was a big success with over 100 attendees.

Yesterday was spent collecting and organizing the stuff that I am delivering to York later in the week.

Today, I focused on painting 1/8" Masonite pieces that will be used for the WSX Tower panel and fascia for the Weirton peninsula. The color is Behr paint called "Baked Sienna".

More when I know it. 

George

Have a good time at York, George!

Updated 4/22/2024:

• As reported elsewhere, York was (as usual) a fabulous time spent with friends and picking up some needed (and not-so-needed) items.  Total haul:
  • K-Line K80-6529 PRR Railway Post Office heavyweight car; this will be added to the planned expressed mail train
  • Atlas 9530-1 Armour #1574 reefer;  this received 3-rail trucks and will be part of the Armour packing fleet to be switched and interchanged at Armour Packing in Steubenville, OH
  • Two Ford 2-door sedans (Fleer?); these 1/43 cars are maroon and blue, respectively
  • Five DZ-1070 track sensors for use with DZ crossing gates and crossbucks
  • Five DZ-1060 PRR 7-light position signals
  • Tank car top (w/ railing) from K&P; this makes a perfect mounting platform for the compressed air tank used at Standard Slag to dump slag cars - one of those spur of the moment finds
• Installed two DZ-1060 PRR signals
• Completed running the 15VAC signal bus on the Weirton peninsula to power all signals, floodlight towers, cross-buck signals, and crossing gates

I am currently working on installing a pair of cross buck signals with the new sensors.

More when I know it. 

George

George, solid haul from York! Once of these days when my kids are older, I am gonna make it there! I cannot wait to see these signals in action once you have them installed and wired. Please send along a video then!

Mike

@G3750 posted:

Updated 4/22/2024:

• As reported elsewhere, York was (as usual) a fabulous time spent with friends and picking up some needed (and not-so-needed) items.  Total haul:
  • K-Line K80-6529 PRR Railway Post Office heavyweight car; this will be added to the planned expressed mail train
  • Atlas 9530-1 Armour #1574 reefer;  this received 3-rail trucks and will be part of the Armour packing fleet to be switched and interchanged at Armour Packing in Steubenville, OH
  • Two Ford 2-door sedans (Fleer?); these 1/43 cars are maroon and blue, respectively
  • Five DZ-1070 track sensors for use with DZ crossing gates and crossbucks
  • Five DZ-1060 PRR 7-light position signals
  • Tank car top (w/ railing) from K&P; this makes a perfect mounting platform for the compressed air tank used at Standard Slag to dump slag cars - one of those spur of the moment finds
• Installed two DZ-1060 PRR signals
• Completed running the 15VAC signal bus on the Weirton peninsula to power all signals, floodlight towers, cross-buck signals, and crossing gates

I am currently working on installing a pair of cross buck signals with the new sensors.

More when I know it. 

George

George, Picture Please!

Ron

All:

I don't have the signals working quite yet, but here are some photos of the stuff I got at York.

On the left is the stand for the compressed air tank.  It's the top platform for a tank car, but it will serve nicely as the support stand for the tank.  On the right is the reefer for Armour Packing.

Here is the PRR Railway Post Office.  It's an 18" K-Line heavyweight car.

Below are a pickup truck and the two 2-door Ford sedans

George

Nice items!

@G3750 posted:

All:

I don't have the signals working quite yet, but here are some photos of the stuff I got at York.

On the left is the stand for the compressed air tank.  It's the top platform for a tank car, but it will serve nicely as the support stand for the tank.  On the right is the reefer for Armour Packing.

Here is the PRR Railway Post Office.  It's an 18" K-Line heavyweight car.

Below are a pickup truck and the two 2-door Ford sedans

George

Nice haul there! I must say, I was right on my earlier assumption!

K-Line Cars are a real kicker and very detailed/smooth runners. Especially the later ones made in the 2000s. Only real downside I’ve ever experienced with them is their smoke units. Other than that, they hold up well!

Another thing I am really curious on and was surprised about hearing was there being an Armour packing plant in Steubenville. I knew most of the industries there thanks in part to the late Bill Neal’s beautiful HO Panhandle Route, but never heard of Armour having one!

Learn something new everyday!

@Pennsy6755 posted:

Nice haul there! I must say, I was right on my earlier assumption!

K-Line Cars are a real kicker and very detailed/smooth runners. Especially the later ones made in the 2000s. Only real downside I’ve ever experienced with them is their smoke units. Other than that, they hold up well!

Another thing I am really curious on and was surprised about hearing was there being an Armour packing plant in Steubenville. I knew most of the industries there thanks in part to the late Bill Neal’s beautiful HO Panhandle Route, but never heard of Armour having one!

Learn something new everyday!

Thank you.  I very much like K-Line cars.  In addition to the 18" Broadway Limited heavyweights, I have the somewhat rare (although I spotted one at this past York!) K-Line 18" PRR Spirit of St. Louis.  That is of course, the correct passenger car set for this route.  Photos below.

The Armour packing facility was just (railroad) west of the station.  From what I have learned, the spur curved off the track and the building was curved to match it.  Should be an interesting build.

And here are two refrigerator cars that I acquired about a year or two ago.  So now I have 3.  I also have a stock car (somewhere).

George

@G3750 posted:

Thank you.  I very much like K-Line cars.  In addition to the 18" Broadway Limited heavyweights, I have the somewhat rare (although I spotted one at this past York!) K-Line 18" PRR Spirit of St. Louis.  That is of course, the correct passenger car set for this route.  Photos below.

The Armour packing facility was just (railroad) west of the station.  From what I have learned, the spur curved off the track and the building was curved to match it.  Should be an interesting build.

And here are two refrigerator cars that I acquired about a year or two ago.  So now I have 3.  I also have a stock car (somewhere).

George

I’ve been really considering grabbing a passenger set of my own one of these days.. only downside is I don’t have space for the boxes and the correct engine to pull them 😔

Maybe next Cheswick show I’ll go looking! Who knows….

Also love the size comparison of the first Armour car to the other. One of my favorite things about K-line reefers is just the size differences and unique combos you can pull off with the traditional sized ones and scale ones.

Favorite example I can think of is my set of Heinz Reefers K-line produced.

Several are small with a few exceptions (the 2004 promotional Fort Pitt Scale reefer and a vats pickle car that’s similar to a copy owned by the science center I’ve seen a lot when I was growing up), and they blend in/roll nicely with the rest of my fleet!

is it bizzare? Yes. But then again, Railking exists!

Updated 4/25/2024:

There are a bunch of projects stuck in various stages.  Some are awaiting further investigation into what I actually want to do, others are delayed by a lack of information, one is a warranty issue with a product that will be used throughout the layout.

As a result, I have turned my attention to a project that has accumulated all the supplies needed and whose time has now come.  I talking about the highway overpass at Crawford’s Crossing.  In the prototype, this is the spot in Weirton where Route 2 (Main Street) crosses over the railroad tracks and essentially splits the mill in half.  I am focused on the 1931 (initial) version of this structure, which was built on the Crawford farm to eliminate automobile interruptions of mill train activity.  In the photo below, the roadbed of Crawford's Crossing sits on the bench work between the two mills.  Eventually it will end up about 5" higher.

I am currently revising my Visio plan of the structure, comparing the dimensions of the components with the drawing.  For example, I bought a number of bridge shoes which I thought were ¼” high.  Turns out that they are ½” high and 5/8” square at the bottom.  Those changes are going into the diagram.  They also have a lot of flash.  A visit to the grinding wheel is the easiest way to clean up all 34 shoes.  I also bought a number of long plate girders from Scenic Express.  While expensive, they are perfect for the structure.  But I will need to trim the ends (which are diagonal rather than straight);  that shortens them and I need to be sure of their fit. Here's a test fitting of the plate girder, bridge shoe, and a stand-in for the abutment.

But just so you know, I haven't forgotten about the Weirton Steel Yard tower's control panel.  That is in progress.  There just isn't much to talk about yet.

More when I know it. 

George

George, I’ve been out for a bit, catching up….. that control panel came out wonderful! I am trying to visualize your elevated roadway. Can’t wait to see the finished product. I feel your pain with the sizing of the bridge shoes etc. I will say that is one advantage of introducing a cheap, resin, 3D printer into my modeling tool kit. I can print the bridge shoes any size I need. I can’t wait to see the roadway split the mill!! Thanks for sharing!

Mike

@LT1Poncho posted:

George, I’ve been out for a bit, catching up….. that control panel came out wonderful! I am trying to visualize your elevated roadway. Can’t wait to see the finished product. I feel your pain with the sizing of the bridge shoes etc. I will say that is one advantage of introducing a cheap, resin, 3D printer into my modeling tool kit. I can print the bridge shoes any size I need. I can’t wait to see the roadway split the mill!! Thanks for sharing!

Mike

Mike,

The panel looks good, but I have yet to populate it with toggle switches and LEDs.  The elevated roadway passes between the mills and then descends to ground level (just like the real thing).

George

This is going to be such a visually interesting scene! It's exciting that you're starting this portion.

Update 4/26/2024:

Revisions and finalization of the Visio plans for the overpass have yielded a few minor changes.  One of these is the final alignment of the road as it climbs to the position between the Blooming Mill and the Open Hearth.  The new alignment means I must move a light tower a few inches farther north (towards the back wall of the layout).  That’s really not a big deal;  it requires disconnecting the wires and drilling 3 new holes.  Here’s a photo showing light tower in the wrong place.

And one showing it in the correct spot.  It's a subtle, but necessary change.

Here's a look at a side view of part of the overpass.

More when I know it.

George

Updated 4/27/2024:

Took another look at the abutment and decided to increase its length, thus making the rate of climb a bit less steep.  A trip to Hobby Express identified some craft plywood sheets as candidates for the abutment sides.  Not quite ready to pull the trigger on that, yet.

Been thinking about the best way to cut my 1/8" masonite sheets.  Each section of roadway needs two - a foundation that is 12.5" wide and the roadway itself, which is 10.25" wide.  Here's a cross-section.  Probably can't read the train clearance, but it's 5 3/16".  Hey, it's 1953 and we ain't runnin' no double stacks!    (Or giraffe cars for that matter!  )

After some thought, I am going to fire up my maternal grandfather's 220V Sears table saw (probably 85-90 years old and still running great) and rip the 8' masonite sections to the correct width.  Below are the masonite sections.  The saw is in the garage and cutting them there (as opposed to using a Dremel SawMax in the basement) will keep the sawdust out of the train room.  Cutting masonite yields a lot of dust.

Once the sections are cut to the proper width, I will do a test fit on the layout.  I was up on the layout getting measurements.  A section of the roadway will come straight out (towards the viewer) from the divider and then dog-leg to the right to join up with the section lying on the table top (Open Hearth is behind it).  The roadway goes between the Blooming Mill (removed for access purposes) and the Open Hearth.  Those two diagonal tracks sit inside the Blooming Mill.

Here's a photo that shows the highway's location between the mills (even though it is on the ground, not elevated).  The yardsticks approximate the remainder of the road as it descends into downtown North Weirton.

More when I know it. 

George

Now the alignment of the road makes sense to me, even though I’ve seen it on your track plan many times.

Your grandfather’s 220 volt saw!  That’s great it is still serviceable!!

George, I can see it now. Gonna be quite a visual coming down to Weirton from the mills.

Mike

Mike and Mark,

There's not a whole lot left around the overpass at Crawford's Crossing.  Here are two modern views, courtesy of Google Maps / Streetview.  This overpass was rebuilt in the 1970s and possibly again more recently and bears little resemblance to the 1931 structure I am reproducing.  Railings and sidewalks are very different, as are the piers underneath.  The pipebridge (on the right) and the electrical tower in the distance are largely unchanged though.  A few of those electrical towers remain and they can be seen in photos dating from the 1920s!

The first is looking south towards the hump of the crossing and will then make a dog-leg right towards downtown Weirton.  The large green area is where the BOP stood.

This view looks northward.  Parts of the Strip Steel are on the right.  What's left of downtown Weirton is behind the camera.

George

Thank you for those views, George!! 

I drove through Weirton for the first time in 2014/2015 and was just floored that I was driving over the mill haha it was such a cool experience. This is going to be an awesome scene!

I can't count the times going down that road and seeing those huge steel mill structures around me with the pac man looking smoke stacks on top. My great aunt lived in the residents on the hill side to the left looking south or on the right going north. Had a nice view of much of the complex from her home. Haven't been that way in years, probably since they demolished the Fort Steuben Bridge. Oh the memories.

Dave

@luvindemtrains posted:

I can't count the times going down that road and seeing those huge steel mill structures around me with the pac man looking smoke stacks on top. My great aunt lived in the residents on the hill side to the left looking south or on the right going north. Had a nice view of much of the complex from her home. Haven't been that way in years, probably since they demolished the Fort Steuben Bridge. Oh the memories.

Dave

Did your great Aunt live on Weir Avenue?  My maternal grandparents lived on Terrace Circle, just below that road.

Yes, all gone.  And many wonderful, happy, bittersweet memories of a town and a time that has been eradicated. 

George

George,

Yes, she did live on Weir Ave. It's mind boggling how they built those homes on the hillside. It was like climbing a ladder to get to her front porch, very steep. Incidentally, I'm speaking of my grandmother's eldest sister.

Dave

This all brings back other happy memories reminding me of another area for me. My aunt lived in Wilmerding, PA on a steep hill with steep stairs that overlooked the WABCO plant. Another time when industrial America was so important and prominent.

Tom

Updated 5/2/2024:

Well, speaking of our long gone relatives, today I fired up my grandfather's Sears Craftsman 220V table saw.  I am in the process of cutting the 1/8" Masonite roadway for the Crawford's Crossing overpass.  Masonite is very messy, which is why I moved these 8' long boards from the basement to the garage to cut them.

Here's a little movie of the saw working.

It felt pretty satisfying to use his old saw to cut the Masonite.  Back in 2017, that saw cut all the lumber for the bench work for the Panhandle.  Very fitting, somehow.  Here's one of the cut boards after being painted with gray primer.

My grandfather was a cabinet maker, carpenter, and builder and sailor of wooden sailing ships (back in Greece).  I can remember walking around his basement wood shop.  In the 1930's he built this model mostly from fruit packing crates.

Today, those ship models are on loan to (and display at) the Weirton Area Museum and Cultural Center in Weirton, WV.

More when I know it.

George

George, that is something special. Ironically, my grandfather had a Craftsman 220V table saw. Being a machinist for Bethlehem and US Steel, he made everything. I remember the saw in our garage after he died. My dad, being a dentist, never used it as he was afraid of cutting off a finger or a hand. The saw was to go to me, since I was the only one of my brothers who enjoyed making things. Unfortunately, when I graduated dental school, my dad decided to sell the saw to a collector to prevent me from cutting off a hand……Wish I still had it! Thanks for sharing!

Mike

@LT1Poncho posted:

George, that is something special. Ironically, my grandfather had a Craftsman 220V table saw. Being a machinist for Bethlehem and US Steel, he made everything. I remember the saw in our garage after he died. My dad, being a dentist, never used it as he was afraid of cutting off a finger or a hand. The saw was to go to me, since I was the only one of my brothers who enjoyed making things. Unfortunately, when I graduated dental school, my dad decided to sell the saw to a collector to prevent me from cutting off a hand……Wish I still had it! Thanks for sharing!

Mike

Too bad your father wouldn't let you keep it!  Mine runs great.

One thing I wish I had was his set of standing rollers.  I think my grandfather made them.  He made lots of things.  He even assembled the Sears Albion Catalog House we lived in.  It was kind of the ultimate craftsman kit.  You pay your money and a truck delivers wood, screws, doors and windows (probably not Grandtline ), and all the fittings.  You put it together.  The neighborhood had a great many of those houses.  I remember that fondly, too.

George

@G3750 posted:

Updated 5/2/2024:

Masonite is very messy, which is why I moved these 8' long boards from the basement to the garage to cut them.

How long will the road be??

On a side note, @luvindemtrains @G3750 @PRR8976 as a younger fella from Youngstown in the 90s, I enjoy hearing about the neighborhoods and whatnot. It's funny how some things haven't changed at all in some areas here.

@BillYo414 posted:

How long will the road be??

On a side note, @luvindemtrains @G3750 @PRR8976 as a younger fella from Youngstown in the 90s, I enjoy hearing about the neighborhoods and whatnot. It's funny how some things haven't changed at all in some areas here.

How long?  Well, that's a tough question to answer exactly.  Check out this plan.  Main Street (WV Route 2) starts out elevated in the upper right corner (against the divider) and moves left.  It dog-legs between the mills until it crosses the 2 tracks and then descends to ground level.  The light green sections are abutments; I've shown them above the road to indicate their placement.  Main Street then proceeds along the lower edge of the layout all the way off to the left.  Roughly, Main Street is 28' long.

@BillYo414, I wish I could show some of the town, but it's all gone.  In my mind, I can still see the glint of graphite on the ground, smell the steel-making, and feel the life of that place.  But there's no way to make what's left seem alive.

George

Updated 5/5/2024:

Been an interesting couple of days.  Yesterday we had a brown out (car crash took out some poles and a lot of Cranberry Township's electricity).  That confused my computer and disrupted the boot sequence.  Took awhile, but I found my docs and fixed the boot sequence.  Then, despite my anti-virus and security software, some malware grabbed the system and wanted me to visit a stopcode site and enter my error message (Nope, I know a scam when I see it).  Fixed that with a reversion to a prior restore point.

Visited Hobby Express and picked up some plywood for the bridge abutments.  These will be very large and require stiff wood, so I got 4 ply stuff (not cheap!).  Finally started working on assembling bridge shoes for Crawford's Crossing.  Unfortunately, they have a lot of flash and require reaming out of the holes in the tops and bases.  My sanding disc is getting a lot of work as are my Dremel and files.

I've got a bunch of these to go.

More when I know it. 

George