Engineering Blog
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
I am please to report that the PRR Middle Division in HO scale continued its progress during the third quarter. The overal project remains on schedule.
JACKS interlocking is completed and fully operational per schedule. Altoona staging is operational, with 20% of trackage in place. The four (of twenty) staging tracks that are operational in Altoona correspond to the same tracks in Harrisburg/Enola and provide run-through capability.
Granville Bridge construction continues on the workbench and will be a "drop in" module for LEWIS interlocking.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
JACKS interlocking is now operational. Doesn't look like JACKS, just west of Mt. Union? Be reminded of a much earlier post, where I explained that JACKS is the interlocking immediately west of LEWIS. On the model railroad, this is the control point immediately west of LEWIS. As such, I call it JACKS. It is actually the entrance to Altoona staging.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
Altoona Staging is now operational. Eventually staging will be 20 tracks wide, but there are four tracks open to allow run through of the four corresponding main line tracks. The view above is westward, which becomes Harrisburg/Enola Staging. Behind the vantage point of the photographer is JACKS interlocking.
JACKS interlocking is coming along well and ahead of schedule. All track is in place. Remaining are installation and control of 16 turnouts and four track power feeds.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
Looking for some suggestions on engineering... I'm building my Granville Bridge on the workbench. It's a custom configuration of the Model Railroad Stoneworks Rockville Bridge kit. Amazingly, the specs are nearly identical (See The Granville Bridge Project).
Half of LEWIS interlocking is situated on top of the bridge deck. Specifically, three sets of crossovers. The bridge is made of Hydrocal. The roadbed is a half inch of Homabed. The issue is control of the turnouts.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
Despite spending most of May preparing the railroad for its first open house -- for the PRRT&HS annual meeting -- this quarter proved very productive on the construction calendar.
WALL interlocking is completed and fully operational per schedule. Harrisburg/Enola staging is operational, with 20% of trackage in place.
As previously briefed, construction of Altoona staging was delayed so that it may be constructed in parallel with JACKS interlocking. Although scheduled for third quarter, ll of the right-of-way (benchwork) has already been completed and rail is being laid.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
Just west of the Lewistown station is the first of many crossings of the Juniata river. This, the Granville Bridge, is home to the west half of LEWIS interlocking. The tower was just east of the bridge's end. In that the PRR Middle Division in HO Scale includes LEWIS interlocking, this spectacular bridge will be modeled.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
The Pennsylvania Middle Division in HO Scale has declared WALL Interlocking operational as of today, about two weeks sooner than planned. I got on a roll and got all of the Tortoise machines wired and stationary decoders programmed and tested.
WALL, which will be hidden (but accessible for maintenance), is the entry to Harrisburg/Enola staging at the east end of the railroad. Located just east of the Lewistown station, WALL takes the four track main line to 20 tracks.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
The Pennsylvania Middle Division in HO Scale has declared Harrisburg/Enola Staging operational as of today.
The staging yard begins at WALL interlocking and conjoins Altoona Staging (to come) to allow continuous run through staging. The yard is 20 tracks wide and over 20 feet long. At least one through track is operational per main line track. The foreground of the above photo shows the remaining tracks awaiting completion (WALL is to the back of the photographer).
WALL interlocking is near completion. All track is in and powered. Switch machines and control will follow over the coming weeks.
Altoona Staging was slated for completion this quarter, but is being delayed for concurrent construction with JACKS interlocking next quarter. However, the stairway underpass will be completed this quarter instead of next quarter.
More photos available here.
- Details
- Category: Engineering Blog
With my first open house just two weeks away, I am frantically trying to get a lot of the little details completed.
One such project is the fascias, which I just completed this evening. They've all received three coats of paint, the LocoNet bus has been installed with UP5's at convenient locations, velcro throttle holders, and beverage holders (gotta keep the crews hydrated!).