Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Trestles

874 views
3 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Martinez, CA
  • 5,440 posts
Posted by markpierce on Friday, March 26, 2010 7:35 PM

While the girders and rails won't be horizontal, keep the bents vertical to the horizon (straight up).

Mark

  • Member since
    February 2005
  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
  • 23,330 posts
Posted by selector on Friday, March 26, 2010 2:04 PM

I prefer to build my scenery and insert the track elements, measure from the track down to the terrain at the places where the sills will rest, and then build the trestle bents to suit.  I add 10% so that I can nip off what must be removed in order for the trestle to nest under the tracks and keep them at grade.

In other words, I fashion the roadbed first so that the grade is well established.  I lay track over the area, suspended by something over the gap to keep it from sagging.  I do the measurements up to the bottoms of the ties vertically from where I want each sill.  I turn to the bench and begin to make each bent frame customized to fit...plus 10%.  When I go to install the trestle, I always have to use a nipper to remove a 1/8" bit here, more on the other side of the bent, and so on, until I can just slide the whole thing into postion, gently prying up the tracks if I must, and it should sit there almost without needing anything else. Of course, I do glue it, and the tracks to the roadbed atop the trestle.  Why tempt fate solely on the basis of hubris?

-Crandell

  • Member since
    September 2004
  • From: Germany
  • 1,951 posts
Posted by wedudler on Friday, March 26, 2010 1:35 PM

 If you have a 2% grade and the bents are 100mm apart, each bent is 2 mm taller.

Wolfgang

Pueblo & Salt Lake RR

Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de          my videos        my blog

  • Member since
    March 2010
  • 1 posts
Trestles
Posted by Tom Mazak on Friday, March 26, 2010 12:39 PM
I am trying to build a section of track over a wood graduated trestle. How do you determine the rate of rise in each trestle section so that the engine can make the grade? My layout is in O and I am using Atlas track. The train will climb to a mountain tunnel then descend to the platform surface. Thanks.

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!