I'm wondering if anyone else has one of these on their layout.
Particularly I'm interested in whether anyone has been able to make this very non-prototypical toy-like bridge look more realistic, by adding appropriate tower supports, using appropriate roadbed, modifying the steel roadbed, etc.
I'd also be interested in the correct accessory number - my original box has no printing of any kind on it.
Finally, I can't seem to locate the rotating beacons and bulbs that belong on top. Does anyone have a source for those?.
I'm planning to remove the bridge from it's present location in the layout, and plan to reinstall it in some 'to be determined' elevated location in the future.
\Thanks,
runtime
Sorry, obviously still having difficulty posting photos.
Runtime......picture came out great, except you need a 2046.
Jack
IF IT WON'T COME LOOSE BY TAPPING ON IT, DON'T TRY TO FORCE IT. USE A BIGGER HAMMER.
That's a neat piece. If it's in original condition, I would just clean her up and use as is (and I'm a detail man...) Just haven't seen any of those around.
Now, on the other hand, if it's already been "refurbed" in some manner, I'd try adding more support cable webbing, and paint the hole thing silver, or maybe a NYC Jade green. It also deserves some good looking granite abutments too, to rest upon.
In addition to what fifey is saying, you might consider adding girders underneat with lattice work that mocks the support towers. Strathmore bristol board, available at art supply stores in various thicknesses is excellent material for this. With it, you can mock the stamped steel construction of the towers pretty well. It was a very popular with old school modelers of the 50's and 60's.It is easy to cut with an xacto knife, strong, and takes paint well without warping and fuzzing up. If you can get a stack of old Model Railroader or Railroad Model Craftsman magazines, you can find great inspiration too. If you haven, try googling suspension bridge and see what you come up with. You often find photos and drawings of things of this nature. Painting it green or red may help too giving the bridge toy train appeal. But that's just me. I like pretty colors.
Thank you John and Fife.
I'll look for that bristol board. I was thinking tall support girders on a short footer, or taller stone supports with a short 'steel' footer under the roadbed. So I have a vision, similar to both yours, but I have no modeling experience, so I don't know what to use for materials.
I've had the bridge since new, although I currently can't locate the beacons which belong on top. They were red/green,had louvers on top,and sat on top of special bulbs with dimples on top. The heat from the bulbs caused the beacons to rotate as the heat escaped through the angled louvers. Probably not something I can find at Olsens.
I once saw this bridge as part of Lionel's big showroom layout in NYC. but even then, it lacked support pillars under the towers as I recall.
Try a quick google of John Roebling Suspension Bridge (Cincinatti). That's the look I'd be going after for your piece (if I were set loose...)
Also, most LIONEL parts dealers carry those beacon toppers, that set/balance on top of a clear dimpled bulb.
Roebling Bridge looking towards Kentucky. The Roebling is a highway bridge. Notice the vertical curvature in the suspened deck. Also notice the cross at the top of each pier.
Buckeye's ancestors lived just downstream of this bridge in the slums of Cincinnati in the 1870's. They moved to Baltimore, MD in 1890 in order to be protected by fifedog's great great grandpappy.
I believe that fifedog may have confused the Roebling bridge in Cincinnati with the railroad bridge designed by Roebling over the Niagara River. He has been stressed out of late due to Princess problems. Notice the simularities between the two bridges especially the way the deck is hung from the main cables.
Celebrating 18 years on the CTT Forum.
Buckeye Riveter......... OTTS Charter Member, a Roseyville Raider and a member of the CTT Forum since 2004..
Jelloway Creek, OH - ELV 1,100 - Home of the Baltimore, Ohio & Wabash RR
TCA 09-64284
Since you guys are ging in this direction... both of the bridges you reference are predecesors to the iconic Brooklyn Bridge build by Roebling (and son, since senior died of gangrene following an accident duringn construction)(and actually we must also give credit to jr's wife, as jr was injured during construction as well, and wife carried out directing the construction crews).
All that aside (and the Brookln Bridge is one of the most beautiful I have seen, along with the Verazanno and the Golden Gate), I think the best model for my Lionel Bridge, as far as support tower bases goes, may be the Manhattan Bridge, also in NYC, and though not designed by Roebling, it did use Roebling Company supplied stranded wire suspension cables.
Incidentally, Roebling designed and built an earlier pedestrian suspension bridge over the Reading, PA railroad yards, which regrettably, the town fathers had torn down in the 1970's.
b
I like how the support cables "fan" out from the support columns, making an interesting webbing of steel on the Cincinatti Bridge. That would be how I'd "dress up" your bridge. The Roebling story is interesting, and caught a documentary on PBS (or was it HISTORY Channel) a few years back.
If you happen to still be following this years old post, I was wondering if you ever found any information reguarding the year made/model number of this bridge.
Perhaps I read the thread too quickly, and someone else has already mentioned this:
The bridge is not a Lionel piece. It was made by one of the smaller companies that manufactured accessories to go with "O" and "S" gauge trains. Off the top of my head, I don't know which one. Regardless, it is still a nice piece.
Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.
Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month