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Reply to "PRR Panhandle 2.0"

Updated 5/23/2020:

While I wait for some parts to be fabricated for me, I have turned my attention to finishing the shelving in the Staging Area of the layout.  This section of the layout is a kind of experiment for me.  Several other modelers I know have an area off the layout for making / breaking down trains;  sometimes this is referred to as a "fiddle yard".  We'll see how this turns out.

Description:

My Staging Area is a 6' x 10' unfinished area at the eastern end of the layout.  It is hidden from the rest of the layout by a divider.  On the layout side of the divider, I have a photograph of the Weirton Steel blast furnaces (circa 2010); these are now gone (torn down in 2018-9).  The Staging Area side has large access holes (not hatches) that permit a person to stand in the middle and reach most of the trains / locomotives.  I am hoping to position a person there during operating sessions.  Features of the Staging Area are:

  • Wall shelving on the back layout wall with a capacity of ~ 40 standard length cars
  • Wall shelving on the back of the divider with a capacity of ~ 45 steel-related (shorter length) cars
  • Storage for at least 6 large locomotives; shifters are stored in yard pockets, by the way.
  • 3 storage / staging tracks (I can keep 3 trains ready to run on them)
  • The reversing track for Weirton Steel blast furnaces.  This is a place to change hoppers, boxcars, ore cars that service Weirton Steel to / from empty / full.  
  • Access to the Staging Area is through 4 holes in the backdrop divider.  I will probably disguise the bottom (southern) two entries as building fronts.  The top two will be disguised by the overpass (Crawford's Crossing).


Here's a view of track plan showing Weirton Steel and the Staging Area.  Items of note:

Staging Area v2

  • The red "E" indicates the eastern side of the layout.
  • The green vertical line is the scenic divider.
  • The light green areas are access hatches. I have to be able to reach into buildings.
  • The two white areas in the Staging Area proper are access holes (no covers).
  • Weirton Steel mills (bottom to top):  Strip Steel, Open Hearth, Blooming Mill are angled at 45 degrees against the scenic divider.  This permits more buildings to be represented in the available (and limited) space.  Otherwise the space would be dominated by only one of these huge structures.
  • The track running parallel to the southern side of the Strip Steel building will have a sign saying "to blast furnaces".  That is effectively my track to the highline of the blast furnaces, supplying them with coal, limestone, and iron ore.  From that track will also come slag cars and hot metal (torpedo) cars.
  • Slag cars (full) will proceed to Standard Slag for dumping.  Empty slag cars will return to the blast furnaces for loading.


The "operator" for this area will be responsible for changing cars to fit the operations described above.

Construction of the space continues.  Early in start of the layout, I built the tables and the shelves against the far eastern wall.  Right now I am working on the shelving against the back of the divider.  Here's a look:

This is the backdrop on the divider.  The Weirton Steel mill buildings will go against it.  The Staging Area is behind it. 
Staging_001_

This is northeast corner of the Staging Area.  To the left is the window with its fan.  I expect to have the fan on during operating sessions to help keep heat down and exhaust any smoke.  To the right are the ends of the Glenn Snyder shelves.
Staging_002_

This is the southeast corner of the Staging Area (the other end of the Glenn Snyder shelving).
Staging_003_

This is northwest corner of the Staging Area.  I have the lowest shelf in place and am working on the one above it.
Staging_004_

Here's the southwest corner of the Staging Area.  Right below the rocket launching car is the spot (approximately) where the blast furnace track will enter.  The exact location is still TBD.
Staging_005_

Here's a look at one of the access holes.  I'm standing in it.  Unfortunately, the whole Staging Area is too cramped to provide a wide angle look at a complete wall.  You can see some of the uninstalled shelving.
Staging_006_

Finally, this is a somewhat better view of the reversing track location.  The 2' level approximates the position of the track.
Staging_007_

More when I know it.  

George

Attachments

Images (8)
  • Staging_001_
  • Staging_002_
  • Staging_003_
  • Staging_004_
  • Staging_005_
  • Staging_006_
  • Staging_007_
  • Staging Area v2

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800-980-OGRR (6477)
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