George,
Did you know that a very similar bridge is in Sciotoville, Ohio? I would imagine the same company built it (McClintic-Marshall Company), but you're the expert.
Dave
luvindemtrains posted:George,
Did you know that a very similar bridge is in Scioto, Ohio? I would imagine the same company built it (McClintic-Marshall Company), but you're the expert.
Dave
Dave,
No, I was not aware of a similar bridge. The bridge across Ohio at Steubenville was built by American Bridge.
George
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Nice Brian!! That drawing of the Steubenville Weirton Bridge really shows off what George is doing! What an ambitious project!
briansilvermustang posted:
Brian,
Yes, I used Google to find the bridge (Earth view). It is similar. I think Custom Model Railroads has produced that bridge as well!
George
briansilvermustang posted:
Yep, I am well aware of that website and the article in Railway Age (April 2, 1927). The article was the basis of my design of the piers and, indeed of my early design that was passed to Custom Model Railroads as a starting point on their product.
George
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Mark Boyce posted:Nice Brian!! That drawing of the Steubenville Weirton Bridge really shows off what George is doing! What an ambitious project!
Thank Mark. No guts, no glory! 
Updated 10/4/2018:
I did apply some additional weathering to the Steubenville pocket-pier and made one change. As I looked at the photos, I realized that I had incorrectly installed navigation lights on a pier that sat on the ground. 
I took them out. Here's the pier at this point. I am a bit tired of it and a little frustrated with its appearance. I'm going to ignore it for 3 weeks and start on the other piers. These are located mid-stream and are much less weathered.
This is the side facing the river.
This side is next to the C&P River Route, so it gets more dirt from steam locomotives and mineral trains.
More when I know it. 
George
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Sorry about the lights. The weathering is hard to replicate. Setting it aside for a while is a good idea. You will get it sooner or later.
Mark Boyce posted:Sorry about the lights. The weathering is hard to replicate. Setting it aside for a while is a good idea. You will get it sooner or later.
Thanks Mark. The lights miscue is not a big deal. I fixed that pretty easily. And this weathering effort is really my first, so this kind of thing is to be expected. I will sort it out.
I took a good hard look at the photos of the other, mid-stream piers. Those should be easier to do accurately.
George
Yes, you are correct italicizing the word 'Should' 
A friend inquired about my use of the term "pocket" pier in reference to the bridge supports.
Not knowing what else to call it, I've used that term. I have no idea if that is what it is actually called. That led me to revisit the April 2, 1927 Railway Age article, which refers to "pockets" within several of the piers needed to carry the 2nd bridge while the 3rd (current) is erected. I was motivated to re-read the article and hence forward, I will refer to the piers accurately by their correct designations. Those are (proceeding east to west):
- Pier 1, the "shorty" pier. The different appearance as well as the photograph below leads me to believe that this pier as well as the stone arch are part of the second bridge (1888). Heck, the arch might even be part of the first bridge, which dates from 1868.
- Pier 2, a "pocket" pier. The article refers to this as "New Pier 2", indicating that it was replaced in the building of the current bridge.
- East Channel pier, which I have referred to as a "mid-stream" pier. This was a new pier required for the current bridge.
- West Channel pier, which I have referred to as a "mid-stream" pier. This was also a new pier required for the current bridge.
- Pier 7, a "pocket" pier. The article refers to this as "New Pier 7", indicating that it was replaced in the building of the current bridge.
In cutting over from the 2nd to the 3rd bridge traffic was only disrupted for 8 hours.
George
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A lot of preparation to only interrupt traffic for 8 hours on the cutover to the new bridge!
Updated 10/6/2016:
My work on the East Channel, West Channel and Pier 2 continues. I am using a Sharpie to inscribe lines on these piers. I am also in the process of installing lights in these piers. Here's a photo showing the installation of the navigation light as well as the supports for the pier floor (Pier 2).
It's also time to start test-fitting the Steubenville truss (Span #8) to the main span. First let's look at the main span sitting atop Pier 7.
Here are both spans being supported by Pier 7.
This is a shot from beneath the bridge. Note the bridge shoes / pedestals supporting the truss in the middle of the "pocket".
I must say that I am pretty happy with how this turned out. Even the coloration and weathering of the pier looks pretty good to me.
More when I know it.
George
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AWESOME work George 
everything looks GREAT !!
briansilvermustang posted:AWESOME work George
Thank you!
We are slowly creeping forward.
George
It looks very good George!!!
Updated 10/9/2018:
I'm working on a few things:
- I painted the tops of the three mid-stream piers (East Channel, West Channel, Pier 7) and top of the "shorty" pier (Pier 2). These got an aged iron textured paint that reflects the soot and cinders covering the tops of the prototypes.
- I've studied the photographs of the three mid-stream piers and decided to simply accent the rings with a Sharpie, apply a gray wash in certain areas, and accent with a rust wash (#13). I'm hoping to get to those later today and tomorrow.
- I took a friend's advice about the C&P River Route having lots of bi-directional traffic and decided to:
- Add a long passing siding inside the tunnel to store a 2nd train. Trains will run in both directions on this loop. Yes, I know I am violating one of my lessons learned.
And yes, there will have to be easy access and / or a way to see or know the positions of trains. - Signal the route in both directions. I am also considering how best to indicate occupancy of the siding and turnout positions.
- Add a long passing siding inside the tunnel to store a 2nd train. Trains will run in both directions on this loop. Yes, I know I am violating one of my lessons learned.
- I conducted a physical inventory of my old switches from Panhandle 1 (most of which I am reusing) and the new Ross Switches I've acquired in the past year. I have identified a pair that I am selling (Curtis RH 11 degree turnouts with DZ-2500 switch machines). BTW, these two switches are on the For Sale Forum. I also identified two others that I need to get. Even though we are probably months away from laying track, I have staged the switches below the west (Steubenville) end of the bench work. All switches were compared against the track plan and received their number (a blue sticky note).
More when I know it.
George
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Hi George,
I looked at an earlier post from a few days ago and the pier you showed came out really nice. Congratulations!
Tom
MNCW posted:Hi George,
I looked at an earlier post from a few days ago and the pier you showed came out really nice. Congratulations!
Tom
Thanks Tom. The pier surprised me a bit. When I looked at it standalone, I wasn't particularly happy with it. But when I put it in place, it looks much better than I expected. I hope the others come out as well.
Are you heading to York?
George
Hi George,
No, never been to York and not sure if I will ever make it there. Enjoy it if you go. 
Tom
Updated 10/10/2018:
For all intents and purposes, Pier 7 (the Steubenville side “pocket” pier) is complete. I have it sitting on the layout holding up the point where the deck truss meets the main span. Eventually, I will move it and the bridge spans approximately 3” to the left (west) to mate up with the western abutment. That exact geometry is yet to be finalized.
Yesterday, I painted all the pier tops with Rustoleum #223535 Aged Iron.
Today, the remaining piers (West Channel, East Channel, Pier 2) finally got all their rings delineated with an Ultra-Fine tipped Sharpie. Then I sprayed the underlying color, Rustoleum #249065 Satin Strawflower, into a small paper cup and touched up the mistakes with a brush. Once these get their gray wash (dirt) and rust spot markings, I don’t think the minute imperfections will be noticeable.
Here are the West Channel Pier, East Channel Pier, Pier 2, and Pier 1 with accompanying photos of their prototypes.
Using the camera's timer and a tripod, I managed to get an over-the-shoulder shot of touching up the ring on a pocket pier.
Here’s Pier 1 (the shorty) with its ring painted gray. This was applied with a spray can – Krylon #53574 Matte Deep Gray. Pier 2’s top ring was brushed with Darice #10120 Dark Gray. Pier tops are not yet fitted in place, but the lights have been installed.
The East Channel Pier had its top ring painted with Ceramcoat #02543 Rain Gray. The pier top is being test fit. Navigation lights have yet to be installed. The West Channel Pier also had its top ring painted with Ceramcoat #02543 Rain Gray. Same state for the pier top and the navigation lights.
I hope to get to the gray wash and rust for the piers tomorrow.
More when I know it.
George
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I worked on Pier 1 today. Early on, I started applying white (vanilla) splotches on the pier ends to match the prototype. I got a little carried away on the sides, but fixed that with a spray of Desert Bisque. I think it turned out OK.
I also mixed up some gray wash and applied it to Pier 2, but it was too light. I'm going to need either a few more coats or a slightly less watery mix. I'll hit that tomorrow.
More when I know it.
George
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Everything is looking great. I have been playing catch up George, sorry about not popping back here since last month. Been offline mostly only popping in on a few things when I could(goes for FB as well). Hard playing catch up.
Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Everything is looking great. I have been playing catch up George, sorry about not popping back here since last month. Been offline mostly only popping in on a few things when I could(goes for FB as well). Hard playing catch up.
WUT? You have been letting the real world and your responsibilities get in the way of model railroading? 
I'm shocked. Shocked, I say!!!
George
Well George, it happens sometimes. Good thing is vacation is here and York, so I will have plenty of time to catch up.
Dave, we need to retire like George! Have a great time on vacation and at York! I'm sorry I will miss you this time. Hopefully next year, obligations won't get in the way!
The piers are looking great, George! 
Updated 10/12/2018:
I think I'm to the point where Pier 2 is just about done.
I started by masking off the pocket and darkening it. All that soot, cinders, and grime has to go somewhere, right?
Then using the photos of the prototype, I applied stains and rust.
Comparatively speaking, the piers in the middle of the river will be much cleaner than those on land. I think this fits the bill.
More when I know it.
George
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Looking great George, and it is nice to see that you are using the prototypical blue tape just like they did when they made the original piers. All terrible jokes aside, I really do like the layers in the concrete, that is really real.
Dave NYC Hudson PRR K4 posted:Looking great George, and it is nice to see that you are using the prototypical blue tape just like they did when they made the original piers. All terrible jokes aside, I really do like the layers in the concrete, that is really real.
Thank you! Enjoy York! I'll be walking around the place. If you see, stop and say hello.
George
I do hope to see you there George. I'm really not looking for anything in particular this time around, so I will most likely be yacking it up with someone somewhere.
Have a great time in York George and Dave! I'll hold down the fort here on the home front!!
I should have a great time Mark. Breakfast was great this morning, we wish you could have been there, your name came up a few times at my table.
Oh no!!! My name came up!!
I wish I had been there as well! It is all for the best. I'm not working, but I have been needed by some of the elderly relatives already since everyone made their way to York yesterday.
Yeah, I know Mark. I doubt anyone would be able to find anything bad to say about you.
Thank you, Dave, But I'm sure we could find someone before too long!!
I think not.
seeing the real bridge 5 days a week, yours looks great.
That is the best compliment you can get, George! Dave knows!
