BUILDING MATERIALS?

[TXT]

I'M AM FAIRLY NEW IN THE "BIZZARO" WORLD OF TRAIN LAYOUT BUILDING, AND I HAVE BEEN READING THE MAGS FOR ABOUT 2 YRS.  ON ALL THE PIC'S OF GREAT LAYOUTS, THERE IS ALWAYS LOTS OF GIRDER BRIDGES, GUSSETED COLUMNS OR GIRDERED ELEVATED TRACK WITH VERY GOOD DETAIL (RIVETS,I-BEAMS,ETC.) AND I LOVE THEM. MY QUESTION IS, ARE THEY SCRATCHBUILT BY HAND OR IS THERE A SUPPLIER THAT SELLS THE PLATE SIDES OR COLUMNS THAT CAN BEEN KIT BASHED TOGETHER? OR ARE THEY JUST BUYING LOTS OF LIONEL GIRDER BRIDGES AND CUTTING THEM? IF THERE IS A KNOWN DEALER PLEASE LET ME KNOW!!

[alexweiihman]

Hello,  It depends at what your lokking at.  Many of the bridges are probably scratch built or made from kits.  On kit is a Phat Truss from Atlas, this trestle has all the details, but I belive it is a higher end product.  Also a few companys offer already made die-cast bridges such as One Hundred Year bridge Company.  Well I hope this helps you out a bit.

 Alex Weihmann

[Dave Connolly]

 You can check out http://www.atlaso.com/  under products and look for bridges. They make a nicely detailed girder bridge as well as a truss one. They are available only as straights.

 If it's a curved girder bridge you have in mind. You probably saw the ones from Bridge Solutions. Very nice and very expensive. Not sure if they have a site. I do remember an add in one of the mags. a while back. You can try contacting them at

  Bridge Solutions
2700 Symmes Road
Suite A
Fairfield, Ohio 45014
513 869 6999
513 869 7100 fax
513 379 6767 cell

[TXT]

YES I HAVE SEEN THE HUNDRED YEAR BRIDGES AND ATLAS ASWELL AS MTH TRUSS BRIDGES, THESE GIRDER BRIDGES LOOK SIMILIAR TO THE LIONEL BUT THE MODELERS HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 2-6 IN LINE, WITH SQUARE  OR RECTANGLE COLUMNS SUPPORTING THEM, AND YES SOMETIMES CURVED. AT AROUND $70-120 A BRIDGE I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS NO CHEAPER ALT? 

[csxt30]

YES I HAVE SEEN THE HUNDRED YEAR BRIDGES AND ATLAS ASWELL AS MTH TRUSS BRIDGES, THESE GIRDER BRIDGES LOOK SIMILIAR TO THE LIONEL BUT THE MODELERS HAVE ANYWHERE FROM 2-6 IN LINE, WITH SQUARE  OR RECTANGLE COLUMNS SUPPORTING THEM, AND YES SOMETIMES CURVED. AT AROUND $70-120 A BRIDGE I CANNOT BELIEVE THERE IS NO CHEAPER ALT? 

Here is a more inexpensive alternative !! 

This mostly 1/4" balsa, leftover from model plane building & the cross bracing undernaeth is from old window shades !!  That was one of my earlier scratchbuilding attempts & I recently replaced it with an Atlas bridge.

Thanks, John