Scratch building bridge need help

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

I am having trouble finding a bridge or bridges that I can use to span the river valley on my layout. Was thinking about scratch building one but dont know where to start? Are there plans out here on the net for such things?

Thanks for any help in this matter.

[Anonymous]

Hello all,

I am having trouble finding a bridge or bridges that I can use to span the river valley on my layout. Was thinking about scratch building one but dont know where to start? Are there plans out here on the net for such things?

Thanks for any help in this matter.

[Anonymous]

I'm not aware of plans available on the net for such a thing. What scale are you modeling? What is the overall length of the bridge? Is it straight? How many spans are you thinking of using? Is it double track? Are the clearances under the bridge limited because track passes underneath? I'd be happy to provide advice but I need some idea of what you want to accomplish. Good Luck - Ed

[Anonymous]

I'm not aware of plans available on the net for such a thing. What scale are you modeling? What is the overall length of the bridge? Is it straight? How many spans are you thinking of using? Is it double track? Are the clearances under the bridge limited because track passes underneath? I'd be happy to provide advice but I need some idea of what you want to accomplish. Good Luck - Ed

[Anonymous]

I am currently building an "old style" truss bridge. I bought some 1/8" dowl rod and some 1/8" x 1/8" square balsa wood at Hobby Lobby. I found some pictures on the internet and just dove into it. I am amazed out how good it is comming out. I used the dowl rod for all of the vertical's and the sqaure for all of the braces. I even got a couple bags of small "timbers" (looks like square toothpicks without the point) and I am glueing them to the bottom of the 1/4" plywood that I used for the track support. It looks just like the planks on the bridge I am modleing. After a little stain and weathering it looks perfect. Hope this can help.

[Anonymous]

I am currently building an "old style" truss bridge. I bought some 1/8" dowl rod and some 1/8" x 1/8" square balsa wood at Hobby Lobby. I found some pictures on the internet and just dove into it. I am amazed out how good it is comming out. I used the dowl rod for all of the vertical's and the sqaure for all of the braces. I even got a couple bags of small "timbers" (looks like square toothpicks without the point) and I am glueing them to the bottom of the 1/4" plywood that I used for the track support. It looks just like the planks on the bridge I am modleing. After a little stain and weathering it looks perfect. Hope this can help.

[Anonymous]

Hello and thanks for the info. I am working in HO scale. The bridge will hopfully span 3ft and be 1-2 ft high with 2 tracks with a 4-6" river between them. The track plan I have for the bridge is made from 22" radi curves flip floped like an "S" only longer. Bridge starts from a tunnel (near flat faced clif ) and ends at a tunnel in some rolling hills. There is no grade planed for the bridge. I know this dose not seam like much to go on, and I dont even have the valley made yet. But I like to get all my ducks in a row befor I get in over my head and find that there is nothing I can do but cry :( about this most so cool river valley that I cant cross :) So I have given all I have at this time, Any help would be very helpfull.
Thanks for your help.

Terry D.

[Anonymous]

Hello and thanks for the info. I am working in HO scale. The bridge will hopfully span 3ft and be 1-2 ft high with 2 tracks with a 4-6" river between them. The track plan I have for the bridge is made from 22" radi curves flip floped like an "S" only longer. Bridge starts from a tunnel (near flat faced clif ) and ends at a tunnel in some rolling hills. There is no grade planed for the bridge. I know this dose not seam like much to go on, and I dont even have the valley made yet. But I like to get all my ducks in a row befor I get in over my head and find that there is nothing I can do but cry :( about this most so cool river valley that I cant cross :) So I have given all I have at this time, Any help would be very helpfull.
Thanks for your help.

Terry D.

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat .
check out my post on Double-track bridges
I'm finding a lot of help in old issues of MR.
look at april 1988 trackside photos this is the bridge you are discribing.
E-mail me and I can send some great photos I've found in my quest for the (right) bridge
good luck
[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

I'm in the same boat .
check out my post on Double-track bridges
I'm finding a lot of help in old issues of MR.
look at april 1988 trackside photos this is the bridge you are discribing.
E-mail me and I can send some great photos I've found in my quest for the (right) bridge
good luck
[e-mail]

[preceng]

Had same problem. I found "Bridge and Trestle Handbook", Paul Mallery, Carstens Publications Inc, helpfull in laying out accurate (or semi-accurate in my case) trusses.

Allan B.

[preceng]

Had same problem. I found "Bridge and Trestle Handbook", Paul Mallery, Carstens Publications Inc, helpfull in laying out accurate (or semi-accurate in my case) trusses.

Allan B.

[Anonymous]

A British book, probably not what you are looking for, "Bridges For Modellers" by L. V. Wood, Oxford Publishing Co., contains lots of photos and technical drawings of bridge construction.

[Anonymous]

A British book, probably not what you are looking for, "Bridges For Modellers" by L. V. Wood, Oxford Publishing Co., contains lots of photos and technical drawings of bridge construction.

[leighant]

Some steel truss bridge plans and articles from Model Railroader back issues:
Big Warrior River bridge, 1887, wrought iron truss
pix, scale drwgs, Mod RRer June78 p.78
model from above plans Mod RRer Oct81 p.65

Double-track HO from Lionel (O gauge) truss Mod RRer Feb86 p.80

Lattice truss bridge, MR June82 p.74

pin-connected truss bridge, 1882 Kane,PA. pix/scale drwg Mod RRer Apr98 p.88

Thru truss spans Mod RRer Sept88 p.84

Some steel truss bridges from Railroad Model Craftsman back issues:

Galt's Gap. Pin-connected truss w photo etched parts.
Part 1,RMC Jan82 p.67; part 2 RMC Feb82 p.72; part 3 RMC Mar82 p.88

Little Kentucky River thru steel truss plans RMC Mar80 p.63
Model construction part 1,RMC Mar80 p.81; pt.2 RMC Apr80 p.86

[leighant]

Some steel truss bridge plans and articles from Model Railroader back issues:
Big Warrior River bridge, 1887, wrought iron truss
pix, scale drwgs, Mod RRer June78 p.78
model from above plans Mod RRer Oct81 p.65

Double-track HO from Lionel (O gauge) truss Mod RRer Feb86 p.80

Lattice truss bridge, MR June82 p.74

pin-connected truss bridge, 1882 Kane,PA. pix/scale drwg Mod RRer Apr98 p.88

Thru truss spans Mod RRer Sept88 p.84

Some steel truss bridges from Railroad Model Craftsman back issues:

Galt's Gap. Pin-connected truss w photo etched parts.
Part 1,RMC Jan82 p.67; part 2 RMC Feb82 p.72; part 3 RMC Mar82 p.88

Little Kentucky River thru steel truss plans RMC Mar80 p.63
Model construction part 1,RMC Mar80 p.81; pt.2 RMC Apr80 p.86

[Anonymous]

Hello I am Jimmy and me and my grandchildren have started with model trains and i was wondering if anyone would give us some ideas and information where i could recive the model trains and trackes and if i should beware of certain things while in the hobbie
thank you for you help
Jimmy and kids

[Anonymous]

Hello I am Jimmy and me and my grandchildren have started with model trains and i was wondering if anyone would give us some ideas and information where i could recive the model trains and trackes and if i should beware of certain things while in the hobbie
thank you for you help
Jimmy and kids

[Anonymous]

Jimmy
http://www.atlasrr.com/
Atlas has a dealer locator on their website that can direct you to dealers in your area. Go and talk to them they are a welth of information.
Pick up a copy of Walthers Catalog, and Subscribe to Model Railroader.
In each issue they have a section that lists train shows and club open houses in your area. Good luck

[Anonymous]

Jimmy
http://www.atlasrr.com/
Atlas has a dealer locator on their website that can direct you to dealers in your area. Go and talk to them they are a welth of information.
Pick up a copy of Walthers Catalog, and Subscribe to Model Railroader.
In each issue they have a section that lists train shows and club open houses in your area. Good luck

[Anonymous]

GreenIron,

OK, based on your description of the problem, I think you should build a trestle. A trestle can easily be made into any curve because it is a series of short spans. Just set your curved track over a set of chords made of girders.

The next question is what era are you modeling? If you are modeling in the pre 1900 timeframe, build a timber trestle. If you are modeling a trestle built after WWII then make it a steel trestle. If it is a large RR since WWI make it steel but if it is a shortline in this timeframe, build timber. But if you don't like my advice and have something you want to do, then do that. Modeling is for fun, do what interests you. Good Luck - Ed

[Anonymous]

GreenIron,

OK, based on your description of the problem, I think you should build a trestle. A trestle can easily be made into any curve because it is a series of short spans. Just set your curved track over a set of chords made of girders.

The next question is what era are you modeling? If you are modeling in the pre 1900 timeframe, build a timber trestle. If you are modeling a trestle built after WWII then make it a steel trestle. If it is a large RR since WWI make it steel but if it is a shortline in this timeframe, build timber. But if you don't like my advice and have something you want to do, then do that. Modeling is for fun, do what interests you. Good Luck - Ed

[Anonymous]

CableBridge

Thanks for that information. I was thinking of doing a wood tressel regardless of the times. :) I just like them. Like you said its for fun do what you like. Some of the best addvice yet.

Thanks all.

P.S. Can anyone help me out with a Train Elevator?

[e-mail]

[Anonymous]

CableBridge

Thanks for that information. I was thinking of doing a wood tressel regardless of the times. :) I just like them. Like you said its for fun do what you like. Some of the best addvice yet.

Thanks all.

P.S. Can anyone help me out with a Train Elevator?

[e-mail]