I model the PRR Pan Handle where it crosses West Virginia, and jumps the Ohio River near Steubenville. The time frame is 1939; all steam, with DCC & Soundtraxx. I use a mixture of brass, Broadway, and detailed Bowsers for motive power. The line runs from Gould Tunnel on the west, through Mingo Jct., Steubenville, Weirton Jct., and up the grade through Burgettstown, Pa. Designed using actual PRR track charts, the model closely follows the prototype. This has been an eye opening aspect, as I have realized why certain tracks were arranged as they were by the PRR, based on real events experienced during operating sessions on the model.

Mingo Jct. Yard is a partially exposed staging yard. However, the Mingo Jct engine terminal is modeled as a live, working facility. Mingo Jct. Is married closely to the west end of Steubenville (selective compression). Steubenville is modeled reasonable accurately, but also shortened. The bridge across the Ohio River is about 9 feet long. Although this seems like a long bridge, the prototype bridge would stretch 22 feet in HO. I am building this bridge using three O-gage Atlas truss bridges and many Central Valley girders, plus sheets of rivets. It is starting to come together. Across the bridge, on the West Virginia side of the river, is Weirton Jct. At Weirton, the Wheeling Secondary heads south and the New Cumberland branch heads north, both terminating in staging yards after a short distance. Whole train loads of rolled and plate steel are pulled from the mills at Weirton, and head east up the grade in long strings of gondolas.

As the mainline continues east out of Weirton Jct., the PRR begins a steady 2% grade that requires helpers on the longer freights. The PRR ran through the West Virginia Pan Handle with 4 mainline running tracks, which makes an impressive sight. The prototype grade was actually 1% up Hanlin Hill, to Burgettstown, but with shorter model trains, the 2% grade gives the same operating problems on the model. An I1sa pusher is stationed at Weirton Jct. and it gets a workout during operating sessions. Along the grade is Collier Interlocking at the Pennsylvania/West Virginia state line, and several large coal mines. At Burgettstown, the Burgettstown branch swings away from the main (and into staging). The mainline goes through a deep cut and also terminates in a staging yard. Pushers cut off at Burgettstown, cross over to the westbound main and drop back down to Weirton.

The railroad went into service in March of 2007, and had the first full operating session during the Detroit NMRA Convention in July, 2007. Since then, I have operated about once a month. The operations have been very satisfying, but have slowed my modeling work. I have done much research on how this part of the railroad was operated, and I attempt to do a reasonable replication of the traffic, the sights, and the sounds of this part of the PRR back in September of 1939. As always, I am always looking for more information about the 1939 era and the Weirton-Steubenville area.