Trains.com

Building or buying trstles and bridges for O gauge layout

4917 views
9 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Building or buying trstles and bridges for O gauge layout
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, August 8, 2005 12:56 PM
I am in the building phase of my layout and have a few places where bridges are needed. I have heard of bridge solutions, although mostly I have not heard good things about their ability to reply to emails and phone calls. Who else is out there selling bridges for O gauge? I do want to avoid the sort of generic steel truss bridge that is generally available. (Nice ones of those are made by Steeltoys.com and by 100 Year Bridge Co., but I am not looking for something like that). I am looking for something more ornate, or elaborate. I know I can buy trestle components from Scenic Express, but what about already-made trestles? Does anyone sell those? What about stone arch bridges? Has anyone seen those for sale? And, if not sold as an already-built bridge, does anyone know where I can get the component parts to make a stone arch bridge?

Last bridge question: How about some books on building bridges for O gauge layouts? I saw an ad in the current MR for a Kalmbach book about model railroad bridges, trestles, and tunnels. I went to order it this AM, only to find that it is not actually going to be available until November! It looks like it will be a great book, but I need info now. Any ideas?

thanks
  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Middle o' Nowhere, MO
  • 1,108 posts
Posted by palallin on Monday, August 8, 2005 1:19 PM

The Atlas O truss bridges are very nice, by all accounts, and not too pricey (for this hobby, anyway). 40" long, !!RC, and can be made single- or double-track and extended by add-on kits.

  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Watkinsville, GA
  • 2,214 posts
Posted by Roger Bielen on Monday, August 8, 2005 6:52 PM
With prebuilt bridges you need to grade your terrain to suit the bridge, if you scratch build you can do whatever is needed. I used 1/4" sq., and other sizes, pine I ripped on the table saw for my bridges and built to suit. I you don't have a saw you can buy either bass wood, or even balsa. Its suprising how strong a 1/4 scale trestle can be. As to design I looked through the mags., train books, bridge books, et al, and put my own design together.

Give it a try, start with the easiest one and go from there. The way to learn is to try, don't get frustrated, you'll learn by your failures.

Good luck.
Roger B.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • 3,176 posts
Posted by csxt30 on Monday, August 8, 2005 6:57 PM
I saw the Atlas Dbl. track bridge in the window of The Train Shop in Erie, Pa. It is huge & very protoypical. I need the single bridge for my layout, as I already built a dbl. trk. bridge. They are both 40 inches long. I noticed AM hobbies has it pretty reasonable. There should be pictures of them at the Atlas O web site. Hope this helps !
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • 44 posts
Posted by dk99358 on Monday, August 8, 2005 7:13 PM
Alan Dechant of Dechants Railroad Express offers custom built items including bridges. His website is

http://www.mrtrain.com/


Dale
  • Member since
    May 2005
  • 382 posts
Posted by trigtrax on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 1:42 AM
Check my website www.steeltoys.com
and give me a call or e-mail on what you need
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 7:02 AM
thanks for the ideas and links. This is sort of what I am looking for, http://www.mrtrain.com/cgi-bin/store/picserve.cgi?picserve=/bridge.JPG


and I will probably get in touch with this guy, www.mrtrain.com to see what it would cost to build one for me. I might try to make a stone arch bridge myself. Not sure until I try if I can do this. I saw some stone stuff at Scenic Express and I will try to get a piece and see if I can work with this stuff.

Trigtrax, I looked at your bridges on your site. Nice. They are not exactly what I'm looking for, but they are nice. By the way, your steel el supports are really nicely detailed. If I ever need any of those, I am going to come to you because yours look great.

This is what I really want to build for a second bridge I need:
http://www.shohola.com/township/shoholaviaduct.jpg


keep the ideas coming!
thanks
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 7:46 AM
like other said, you can built trestles by ripping wood.... i use 1/8" x 3" x 3' *(edit 1/8) sections of white pine found at home depot and cut them down on my table scroll saw...

i can almost put my weight on the trestles they are that strong...

for the stone archway, have you considered making what you want out of foam?

the "hotwire" website has some great photos of what you can make

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 4:20 PM
http://www.blackbearcc.com/
  • Member since
    March 2003
  • From: US
  • 16 posts
Posted by MACADO on Tuesday, August 9, 2005 10:49 PM
I understand yhat Plastruct makes a warren truss kit, for about $40..00. If you live in the North East were there a some good train shops, perhaps you cab find one in the store.

Join our Community!

Our community is FREE to join. To participate you must either login or register for an account.

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Classic Toy Trains newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month