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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2021 4:23:33 GMT
Congratulations, George!!
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Post by Country Joe on Jun 9, 2021 4:54:29 GMT
George, congratulations on getting your article published. I will pick up a copy of the magazine if any stores near me carry it.
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Post by ptc on Jun 9, 2021 13:00:37 GMT
Congratulations on the article, George.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 9, 2021 15:22:45 GMT
Congrats George ... that's awesome!
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Post by g3750 on Jun 9, 2021 21:41:21 GMT
Thank you, all!!
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Post by g3750 on Jul 17, 2021 2:59:20 GMT
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, WV. 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
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Post by g3750 on Jul 23, 2021 3:32:15 GMT
Updated 7/22/2021:
Still a bit stymied by the interlocking circuit, but I did make progress on the O-scale Pennsy hairpin railings.
Here they are on my workbench while I try to determine where to cut them.
Here's a stretch of them up close.
Finally, here's a look at the back rail of the bridge.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by Country Joe on Jul 24, 2021 14:52:07 GMT
George, the fence looks real good. You are doing a very nice job. 👍
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Post by g3750 on Jul 25, 2021 16:50:04 GMT
Updated 7/24/2021:
Yesterday, I'm pleased to say that after a long and torturous road and because of a friend (this is his design), the signals are working!
There's a spot on the Panhandle where the Weirton Steel Yard exits onto the Westbound Mainline. This is a place where I needed an interlocking set of signals. The area is protected by an MTH signal bridge on the mainline and a Z-Stuff PRR signal (DZ-1060) for the yard exit. The correct (desired behavior) was: - When the switch is thrown for the mainline, the MTH signal (mainline) should show CLEAR and Yard signal STOP.
- When the switch is thrown for the yard exit, the MTH signal (mainline) should show STOP and the Yard signal CLEAR.
- When the track west of the signal is occupied, BOTH signals should show STOP.
Here some photos illustrating the correctly working solution devised by my friend. The mainline stretches left into the distance beyond the MTH signal bridge (indicating STOP). The Weirton Steel Yard exit is to the right (with the decapod sitting on it). The DZ-1060 indicates CLEAR. Switch #36 is in the left center of the photo.
Switch #36 has been thrown for the mainline. The MTH signal is now CLEAR and the Z-Stuff signal indicates STOP.
Throwing the switch back to the original position causes the signals to indicate properly.
The ore train pulled by double-headed decapods has now exited Weirton Steel Yard and pulled onto the mainline, occupying that block. As should occur, BOTH signals are indicating STOP.
I am now in the process of buttoning up the diagram, putting parts back into labeled bags, and making the wiring underneath (notice how I didn't show you that rat's nest?  ).
More when I know it.
George
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Post by g3750 on Jul 29, 2021 1:04:25 GMT
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: 3rd 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
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Post by rcs226e on Jul 29, 2021 17:51:20 GMT
Very nice George. Lotta work!
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Post by Country Joe on Jul 29, 2021 19:25:50 GMT
George, the hairpin railing looks great! You did a really nice job on it.👍
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Post by g3750 on Jul 30, 2021 2:02:50 GMT
Updated 7/29/2021:
Thanks all!
Today, I added an access hatch back in the Weirton Steel area. It's the rightmost one in the drawing below. I decided not to cut the left-hand one.
George
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Post by g3750 on Aug 1, 2021 3:33:54 GMT
Updated 7/31/2021: Activities today weren't very glamorous but they were necessary. - Measured the next section of fascia (Eastern Approach) and marked it for cutting. We'll check it again tomorrow and make the terrain profile cuts.
 - Got the paint for the fascia, a Behr color called Moroccan Henna, re-shaken in anticipation of treating the fascia.
- Put a number of small parts and items into labeled shop drawers (tedious, but vital to finding them later).
- Pulled all the tools, parts, and junk off the Weirton Steel mill and yard area in anticipation of cutting a few access hatches and laying track. Here's a view of the Weirton Steel area before clean-up.
And a view afterward. Not only did I remove all the tools and materials, I used the shop vac to get the table top clean.
And here are some photos taken from vantage points not likely to be seen again (from atop the Weirton Steel bench work looking west).
I have covered the bridge in anticipation of creating a lot of sawdust and dirt. Tomorrow I will cover the rest of the approach tracks.
More when I know it.
George
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Post by g3750 on Aug 3, 2021 2:54:45 GMT
Updated 8/2/2021: I spent some time today measuring the locations of the various mills in the Weirton Steel complex. Then I cut out a full-size floor template of the Open Hearth, climbed up onto the bench work, and moved it around until it was correctly positioned. Then I moved Crawford's Crossing (the highway overpass) next to it (that's using modeler's license) and established the location of the Blooming Mill (on the other side of overpass). Using more ML, I positioned the Strip Steel next to the Open Hearth. And next to it will be a foamcore building that I will use to hide the entry to the Staging Area and disguise as a power house.
That flat area sticking out of the left front of the Open Hearth will actually be part of the structure - it's called the cracker. And the floor template extends much farther towards the divider than can be seen. The mill's footprint is 37" w x 50" long. The cracker will extend another 12.5" out front. Here's a photo of the prototype.
Finally here's a look at the approximate height of Crawford's Crossing as it passes between the buildings.
More when I know it.
George
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