Question about Lionel plate girder bridge

[Anonymous]

I have a couple of MPC-era Lionel plate girder brisges that I was planning to use on my holiday layout. This layout is equipped with Lionel's FasTrack.

However, I have discovered that the assembled plate girder bridges are too narrow, in the sense that the FastTrack roadbed does not lie flat on the bridge bottom plate because the molded-in FasTrack roadbed is a bit too wide.

I realize that I could probably trim/cut the plastic roadbed on both sides to make it fit, or perhaps modify the bridge itself, but this is something I prefer not to do.

My question is: Are the plate girder bridges currently being offered by Lionel a bit wider so they will accomodate Lionel's FasTrack roadbed? If so, I'll buy several of them. If not, I'll have to go to Plan B, and buy another type of bridge. I would prefer to use plate girder bridges for what I have in mind, but will hold off on buying the current versions until I hear from someone who is (a) using FasTrack and (b) using Lionel's plate girder bridges with the FasTrack. Thanks for any informed responses.

[Big_Boy_4005]

Allan, are those the ones that have the removable sides? If so, why not just attach the sides to a wider piece of sheet metal. A piece of sheet metal (like duct work), a pair of tin snips, and some black paint should be all you need.

Taking this one step further, why does the bridge even need a full plate bottom, especially with Fastrack? Metal strips that fit in the slots of the bridge sides could be glued or otherwise mounted to the Fastrak bottom, then just slip the sides in place.. Problem solved.

[wrmcclellan]

Alan,

Lionel has released a new die cast plate girder bridge that is compatible with Fastrack. Lionel PN 6-14222, list $24.99. It is available as I saw one late last week at the train shop.

Regards,
Roy

[Anonymous]

Thanks, Roy! That's the answer I was looking for. I saw boxes of the new (I assume) plate girder bridges at my not-so-local hobby shop a wekk or so ago, but didn't buy any (I really need four) because I wanted to first see if the MPC/LTI versions I have here would work. Tried them, and they don't. I don't really want to modify them, although I'm certain I could do it if I wanted to, and would just prefer to get the newer, FasTrack compatible ones. I believe the not-so-local dealer was selling them at list, but I'm sure I can do better by ordering through Trainworld. I like to support this state's economy when I can, but I really can't see spending $25 x 4 + tax for plate girder bridges if I can save $30 or so buying them via mail order.

[wrmcclellan]

Allan,

You are welcome. As an alternative have you considered sacrificing a few pieces of FasTrack by using a Dremel tool with a sanding drum to grind the sides of the FasTrack molded ballast a bit narrower? Would be cheaper than 4 new bridges.

Update - Sorry - I noticed you did consider modifying the track. My apologies for re-visiting the topic.

Regards,
Roy

[KeithL]

Alan,

Be sure you get the new #6-14222, which accommodates FasTrack, and not the older #6-14137, which Lionel still catalogs. The latter looks the same and is priced the same, but, like your MPC-era girder bridges, won't accommodate FasTrack.

Keith

[Anonymous]

Okay. . . 6-14222 is what I'll be sure to look for. As I recall, I saw two versions of the bridges when I visited the hobby shop (both still in their flat boxes). One was a plain black (I think), and the other may have been blue, bearing some railroad's name. Somewhere around here I have a current Lionel catalog, so I guess I had better do my homework and make sure I'm right about that. I would probably want the plain black versions.