PRR Panhandle 2.0

Those slag dumps can look nasty at night with the red light.  That would be impressive to model.

Would love to hear how you plan to model that George

@Ohio Jeff posted:

Would love to hear how you plan to model that George

So would I!    

I've got some ideas that I want to work on before talking more about this.  Right now, it's a concept that needs proving.  I'm optimistic, but it's not a done deal yet.

George

Updated 10/6/2024:

• Early attempts to de-bond roof sections and reuse them in the new fortified Open Hearth roof have so far been unsuccessful.  I'm still chewing on this one, but I might have to replace all these roof sections ($$$$ ).
• I am now thinking about the woodworking aspect of my slag dump.  I am going to cut and size a 4' x 8' x 1/4" Masonite sheet to make the base of the slag dump.  We're doing a lot of test-fitting and mock-ups to see how all the pieces will end up, and how I will support it all. The dump is going to be permanently installed on the layout, but the Arduino and other animation circuitry will sit on a small (6" x 12") base that must be removable.  It's not going to pop in and out on a daily basis, but some thought must be given to access to smoke units and to powering the board.  All of this will affect the placement of components.
• The layout and train room underwent a thorough cleaning and organizing effort over the previous few days.
• A family friend and his wife flew in to visit and stayed overnight with us last Thursday.  He was amazed at the progress in just one year.  It was fun watching him run trains – real kid on Christmas morning stuff.  His wife loved the layout scavenger hunt.  Even though it’s not done, I’m enjoying the layout and the effect it has on visitors.
• I am ecstatic to report that the layout performed very well.  Not only did engines crawl along without stalling, but the 18” passenger cars on the Spirit of St. Louis were able to back down the mainline at moderate speeds!
• I did have 2 TMCC-related minor emergencies.  In nearly the same spot, two different engines failed to respond to the DIR button in a timely fashion.  One situation prompted the use of Emergency Halt.  In the other, I simply grabbed the Decapod off the track, averting a Red Arrow type of event.  As a result of that "excitement" and taking into account future view blocks will hinder the detection of emergencies, I have decided to install 3-4 emergency Halt panic buttons around the layout. These will be hardwired to the terminal strip that controls power to the layout. My electrician friend has volunteered to construct them.  The Emergency Halt button on the CAB-1 remote is the first line of defense.  These buttons will be the second.
• A new circuit (ITAD-like) has been acquired GRJ (thank you @gunrunnerjohn). I hope to install it (to run a PRR signal) very soon (before York).
• I have gone back to work at Hobby Express 2 days a week.
• And finally, I am getting ready to attend the World's Greatest Train Meet next week.

More when I know it. 

George

It’s great your visitors liked the layout, running trains, and scavenging!  It was nice to see you at Hobby Express a couple weeks ago!

@Mark Boyce posted:

It’s great your visitors liked the layout, running trains, and scavenging!  It was nice to see you at Hobby Express a couple weeks ago!

Thank you!

Updated 10/29/2024:

It's been an unusual couple of weeks since York.  And York itself was very different for me.  I actually spent very little this time around, coming home with a refurbished postwar LW transformer (for the programming & test bed) and a few laser cut benches.  Just didn't see much I wanted to buy.  Still had a great time and saw a bunch of friends.

Layout work is slowly ramping up in intensity:

• Got a nice day last week and spray painted the new roof underlayment panels flat black.  That pretty much finished off all the cans of Rustoleum 2X flat black primer.  The one that is left is clogged.  I have it upside down soaking in some paint thinner in the garage.
• I have temporarily clamped one of the underlayment sheets to the top of the roof trusses.  It's painted side up because I am planning to add stiffeners (in an "X" pattern) between the trusses.  I'm going to glue them in place and then flip the piece over and permanently glue it into place.  After that, I will glue corrugated roof pieces (Plastruct 91512) into place on it.  Of course, my order of Plastruct 91512 has to arrive at Hobby Express first.
• My 2-sided divider backdrops have been finalized and are headed into production.  There's a chance they will arrive next week, which will pretty much force me to move forward.

More when I know it. 

George

Can't wait to see some photos of the backdrop! It'll be like getting another new track section.

Oh, forgot to post this photo of the OH roof being temporarily held in place.

Stiffeners will go in place over the next few days.

George

Updated 11/22/2024:

I started the process of flattening the backdrops in preparation for applying to masonite.

I also glued the stiffeners in place on the Pouring side's main roof section.  I will flip this over and then clamp and glue it to the trusses, probably with a slow glue like E-6000.  Once in place, I will attach Plastruct 91512 roofing.

More when I know it. 

George

Updated 11/22/2024-late:

Did manage to flip and glue the Pouring side's main roof in place.

Spray painting and gluing all the Plastruct 91512 roofing in place is the next step.

George

Progress is looking up, George!

Updated 11/24/2024:

Forgot about this - last week I received the components of my Emergency Stop System from my electrician friend.  There will be 4 Stop stations and 1 Stop/Start station.

I am still finalizing the locations for each of these.  I will need to find mounting brackets as well.

More when I know it. 

George

That Emergency stop system looks interesting George

@naresar posted:

That Emergency stop system looks interesting George

Yes, I think so too.  The layout is big enough to make reaching the power switch difficult under duress.  

George

@G3750 posted:

The layout is big enough to make reaching the power switch difficult under duress.  

I'm in a similar boat. I'll be taking notes on how you get the job done

Is the emergency stop for the trains or for other stuff that is powered?

@G3750 posted:

Yes, I think so too.  The layout is big enough to make reaching the power switch difficult under duress.  

George

I certainly don’t have that problem on my little layout!  😉

I’m with Bill looking forward to seeing how you get this working.

@Bob posted:

Is the emergency stop for the trains or for other stuff that is powered?

Bob,

The short answer is everything on the layout.  All buttons connect to the box.  The box is plugged into the wall.  The layout is plugged into the box.  Obviously, my primary concern is the trains.  But pushing one of these buttons will kill all power RFN (Right Freaking NOW).  So this is the FAILSAFE device.

George

Since you're using TMCC, the red triangular HALT button on the Cab-1 will stop every train right now.  I've only had to use it twice in 20 years of operating sessions, but it worked well both times (6 or 7 locomotives in motion all stopped immediately).  I always have a Cab-1 in my pocket "just in case."

@Bob posted:

Since you're using TMCC, the red triangular HALT button on the Cab-1 will stop every train right now.  I've only had to use it twice in 20 years of operating sessions, but it worked well both times (6 or 7 locomotives in motion all stopped immediately).  I always have a Cab-1 in my pocket "just in case."

Bob,

Yes, I have used the CAB-1's HALT button as well.  But I have also had a locomotive fail to obey it (probably a problem with that particular remote's button contacts).  In the moment, I grabbed the locomotive (it was moving slowly).  Being a "belt and suspenders" type of guy, this is the suspender portion of the equation.  It also gives new operators another option. 

I readily admit this approach is a nod to my paranoia.    Or as Jimmy Buffet said "if we weren't crazy we'd all go insane."

George

Updated 11/26/2024:

All the buttons (except the Start / Stop) are located next to a tower's control panel.  Those are:

1. Staging Area (SA)
2. Weirton Steel Yard (WSX)
3. Weirton Junction (WC)
4. Steubenville (QN) Tower

The main box will sit on the bottom shelf of the transformer cart, next to the reference manuals and operating guide.

I will be using 1/2" conduit and brackets to route the Romex from the Stop buttons to the main box.

More when I know it. 

George

Updated 11/27/2024:

Got to work on the Emergency Stop System, specifically figuring out how and where to mount buttons and components.

Here's what I know right now:

• Button #1 (Staging) is tested mounted on top of the bench work right next to the control panel.  It will be screwed in from below.  I think I will put a conduit elbow through the surface for the Romex.

• Button #2 was mounted so that it is flush with the fascia.  I wanted to put it a bit closer to the Weirton Steel Yard control panel, but with the Tortoise switch machines and wiring under the bench top there just wasn't room.  I ended up using a 2x4 attached to a corner brace to mount the box to the layout.

Still tons of work to go.  I need to place Buttons 3, 4, and the Start / Stop button and run all the Romex.

More when I know it. 

George

George, the first one looks like a sturdy installation.

@Mark Boyce posted:

George, the first one looks like a sturdy installation.

Thanks Mark!  Yes, I believe all these buttons need to be securely anchored.  They are industrial buttons and are not easy to push (you don't want an accidental nudge activating them) so a solid feel is essential.

George

Happy thanksgiving! Loving the button work ya did there George! Forgot to provide updates on the region there but it pretty much the same last I drove by: Follansbee being demolished and what not.

What was new was the ex. P&WV overpass over Ohio Route Seven. It was replaced!

@G3750 posted:

Thanks Mark!  Yes, I believe all these buttons need to be securely anchored.  They are industrial buttons and are not easy to push (you don't want an accidental nudge activating them) so a solid feel is essential.

George

George, as I recall from my days working for the power company; laid off in 1995; there were two emergency buttons for each generating unit.  They were spaced just far enough apart that one person couldn't reach both; it took two people to trip the unit offline.  Of course on the layout, you don't want that scenario, but your concept is the same.  You don't want accidental trips.

@Pennsy6755 posted:

Happy thanksgiving! Loving the button work ya did there George! Forgot to provide updates on the region there but it pretty much the same last I drove by: Follansbee being demolished and what not.

What was new was the ex. P&WV overpass over Ohio Route Seven. It was replaced!

Neven,

I can't take credit for the buttons and electrical components - that's my electrician friend's work.  He's also a member of my NMRA Division.  Did everything at cost; his only payment is running the trains!

Thanks for the update on Ohio 7.  I've got to get down that way.

A very Happy Thanksgiving to you as well.

George

Spent a bit more time under the layout this morning looking at potential mounting points and approaches.  At this point, I am thinking about fixing the main junction box to the bottom of the layout benchwork (actually hanging it from a rib) and routing the Romex to it.  That will be more direct and a bit neater.

George

Updated 11/28/2024:

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!!

Before I go stuff myself silly, I decided to install Button #1 in the Staging Area.

Started by using my template to mark the positions of the screw holes (in the bottom of the push button).  Next I used a long drill bit to make holes for the screws.  The hole for the Romex was made with a 7/8" paddle bit.

I threaded the Romex through the hole and positioned the button box correctly.  The next step was to screw the #8 x 3' wood screws into the box from the bottom.  Note that the holes in the photo above are reversed from what I actually did (I had the template backwards).   No harm.  No one will ever know unless someone blabs. 

Here's the finished button box installed next to the Staging Area control panel.

More when I know it. 

George

Updated 11/29/2024:

After a trip to one of the box stores for more conduit and fittings (I had no idea you could get 10' lengths of 1/2" conduit into a 2008 Cobalt coupe ), I was able to install Stop button #3 next to the Weirton Junction tower control panel.

Conduit installation, running of Romex, and placement of the junction box is next on my list.

More when I know it. 

George

Good job on fitting the conduit in the Cobalt!  The conduit and Romex is a good idea.  Better to protect those wires!!!

Updated 12/03/2024:

I have pulled conduit and Romex for Stop buttons 1, 2, and 3.  I have also determined the location of the junction box and the Start/Stop button.

Here's the conduit run from Stop button #3.

The conduit for Button #2 arrives above the power distribution panel from the right above.  The 1/2" conduit for Button #1 comes from right below.  Both go into the 1" conduit at the left.

Here's a better view.  The junction box will be out of view on the left.

More when I know it. 

George

Amazing work, George!

Peter

@Putnam Division posted:

Amazing work, George!

Peter

You're too kind, Peter.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't make the grade as an electrician's apprentice. 

George

@G3750 posted:

You're too kind, Peter.  I'm pretty sure I wouldn't make the grade as an electrician's apprentice. 

George

George, you would make a good apprentice, if you were younger.  Couldn’t we all? 😄  You have a head for it and are a good learner.

Updated 12/15/2024:

Having been interrupted by work, a cold, family visit, life, etc., I finally got back to work last night and this afternoon:

• Painted some roof panels flat black (still more to come!).
• Took the Open Hearth's ventilator roof off.  I will rebuild it with new panels and 3D printed 120 degree roof caps.

Here are some photos.

I've loosened the ventilator so as to make removal easier.  The white foreground in the next 4 photos is the underside of the main roof.  I will be gluing corrugated roof sections (Plastruct 91512) painted flat black to it shortly.  But it will be easier to work up there with the ventilator gone.  I took these photos while standing on a chair and poking through a hole in the bench work.

We've got half off at this point.

All gone.

Here it is on the bench top.

My current thinking is to build the ventilator as a rigid structure and then fit it on top of the roof trusses.  I am curious to see  how that actually plays out.  It will be an unwieldy structure and I will have to work around the smoke stacks.  TBD.

But for now, I'm going to test fit, cut, and glue roof sections onto the main roof.

More when I know it.

George

George, it sounds like a plan!  As unwieldy as this roof is, I wish I could just take the roof off my shed, lay it on the ground in the back yard and re-shingle it.  I don't know if that comment made you feel any better or not. 

Updated 12/15/2024 PM:

Roof replacement is underway.  About 75% of the roof for the main building (Charging Floor) is done.  Still need to fit the segments nearest the ventilator.  Here are some shots of the progress.

I hope to get to the rest of this roof tomorrow.

More when I know it. 

George

Nice progress!!