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!

Double stacks ?

7628 views
26 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2019
  • From: Pacific Northwest
  • 780 posts
Posted by SPSOT fan on Sunday, June 9, 2019 6:46 PM

I can't be certain if it is or not. This link says that the standard height for "modern" stuff is 2 11/32" or 59mm. If your standards guage is the "modern" version then I would think it would fit double stacks.

I have to say whoever had the idea for that standard guage cars is a genious!

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by railandsail on Sunday, June 9, 2019 8:00 AM

railandsail

I realize I brought up 'history', but it had a few good photos. Here is one I found with the standards gauges


So I have a place where two inlined 15" long Walthers bridges would work, but I need to have them handle dbl stacks and autoracks,...since I made the rest of the layout to handle them,...and the dbl-tracks are my mainlines crossing a river.

 

BTW, are those 'standards gauges' good for modern double stacks?

  • Member since
    July 2002
  • From: Jersey City
  • 1,925 posts
Posted by steemtrayn on Saturday, June 8, 2019 8:21 PM

Some containers are a little taller than others. Don't place two taller ones in the same stack and they might squeeze through. Or, you can shave off some material from the lower container and hope no one notices.

 

nw2
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 80 posts
Posted by nw2 on Thursday, June 6, 2019 7:19 PM

You can use a pouce wheel to add rivet detail,  you can get one that provides pretty close to realistic spacing or use archer 3d decals of rivets

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by railandsail on Monday, June 3, 2019 10:18 PM

riogrande5761

Holy necro topic, raised from the dead from 2006.  Twenty lashes with a wet noodle Brian!  Pirate

 

Didn't you ever learn anything from reading a history book ??

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Heart of Georgia
  • 5,406 posts
Posted by Doughless on Monday, June 3, 2019 7:48 PM

Yes.  Willy6 wrote an important post.  Walthers makes a "modern" version of the same bridge.  

No need to buy and modify the old one.  Buy the new one.

- Douglas

  • Member since
    June 2007
  • 8,892 posts
Posted by riogrande5761 on Monday, June 3, 2019 4:25 PM

Holy necro topic, raised from the dead from 2006.  Twenty lashes with a wet noodle Brian!  Pirate

Rio Grande.  The Action Road  - Focus 1977-1983

  • Member since
    September 2014
  • From: 10,430’ (3,179 m)
  • 2,311 posts
Posted by jjdamnit on Monday, June 3, 2019 1:15 PM

Hello All,

Great solution!

jbinkley60
The styrene does't have rivets but I can live with it.

For future reference, you could have used Central Valley Girders. These come in various configurations and dimensions and have the rivet detail.

Again, nice work.

Hope this helps.

"Uhh...I didn’t know it was 'impossible' I just made it work...sorry"

  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: Ridgeville,South Carolina
  • 1,294 posts
Posted by willy6 on Monday, June 3, 2019 12:24 PM

Walthers had two versions of the double track HO bridge. I have both versions. The newer one is the "modern" version and allows double stacks. The is a definite difference with the top cross beams / braces.

Being old is when you didn't loose it, it's that you just can't remember where you put it.
  • Member since
    February 2009
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by railandsail on Saturday, June 1, 2019 3:11 PM

I realize I brought up 'history', but it had a few good photos. Here is one I found with the standards gauges


So I have a place where two inlined 15" long Walthers bridges would work, but I need to have them handle dbl stacks and autoracks,...since I made the rest of the layout to handle them,...and the dbl-tracks are my mainlines crossing a river.

  • Member since
    April 2019
  • From: Pacific Northwest
  • 780 posts
Posted by SPSOT fan on Saturday, June 1, 2019 12:55 PM

Firstly I'm sure your aware that you revived a thread from ancient history! Big Smile

I don't know if any bridges but I recently Google what the clearance standards are in North America and the highest clearance is just over 20 feet, which is the standard double stacks use. So if a bridge has about 22-24 scale feet of clearance will work.

Of you could use an NMRA standards gauge. Just though that after writing the previous paragraph. Duuuh!

Regards, Isaac

I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!

  • Member since
    February 2009
  • 1,983 posts
Posted by railandsail on Saturday, June 1, 2019 11:14 AM

What other double track bridges (plastic production ones) now have clearance for autoracks and double stacks??

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Posted by jbinkley60 on Sunday, August 6, 2006 12:57 PM

Yep.  Right now I have 1/4" of room, which equates to 21.75" of clearance.  I am not sure what tthe normal railroad clearance distance are.  I would think anything over 18" should be enough.  Anyone know ?

 

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,299 posts
Posted by Dave-the-Train on Sunday, August 6, 2006 9:50 AM
Don't forget thet the real RR don't just scrape through... they have to allow for bounce / wobble / and whe=atever else may come into play.
  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Posted by jbinkley60 on Sunday, August 6, 2006 9:23 AM

I completed modifictions on the Walthers bridge.  Here are a couple of pictures:

I used 1/4" styrene to replace the lattice bracing.

The new inside height is now 3 1/4" and the Athearn intermodal cars fit fine.

The styrene does't have rivets but I can live with it. 

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Saturday, August 5, 2006 10:05 AM

The new brass bridge kits from TrainCat at via www.texnrails.com are both double stack, excess hieght and Autorack friendly, meaning they do not come too close and no modifications are needed to the bridge or the rolling stock. Currently they are offering a sigle track Lenticular truss and two other truss prototypes are in theworks in both single and double track.  They are all brass kits.  I have also heard thatthey will be releasing plate-girder bridges in the near future again as a brass kit.  And to top it off, they are even looking at doing a modular series for those that need to build theirs a little bit different.

 

Granted these all have to hit the street and all, but it could be hope for the future.

 

 

  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Posted by jbinkley60 on Saturday, August 5, 2006 9:52 AM

Ok, here's what I found out so far.  The Walthers double-track truss bridge 933-3012 has 2 7/8" of clearance from the top of the rail to the underside of the top girders (without any modifications).  This is using the recommended Walthers code 83 bridge track. 

Walthers 53' Well Cars (933-3945 or 933-3946) with Athearn Stoughten trailers (2684 and 2687) stacked are 2 3/4" high.  They just fit through the bridge. 

Athearn Husy stacks (72561 and 72562) with the provided trailers are 3" high and do not fit.  Swapping one of the provided trailers with one of the Athearn Stoughten trailers above comes in at 2 7/8" high.  It will start through the bridge but any track fluctuation and it will stick in the bridge. 

Visual observation shows that the Walthers Well Cars (being metal, not plastic) sit lower to the track.  The additional 1/8" lower allows them to fit through the bridge.  The Athearn Husky Stacks might be able to have the trucks replaced or some other modification to get them lower to the track. 

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

  • Member since
    April 2005
  • From: Coon Rapids, MN
  • 123 posts
Posted by bnsfncoal on Friday, August 4, 2006 4:34 PM

 CSXFan wrote:
I don't mean to hijack this topic but what about the N scale bridges? I will have one as a main focal point on my future layout and I don't want any clearance problems.

CSX Fan,

I run double stacks through my Kato bridge and they clear. Deluxe Innovations, Walthers, Kato with various brands of containers and they do clear.

Guy

Unlike my wife...I like my diamonds black!!!!
  • Member since
    July 2006
  • 2,299 posts
Posted by Dave-the-Train on Friday, August 4, 2006 1:06 PM

Two elements...

1. this is a problem the real RR had.

2. I've been warned of this with the Walthers double track bridge but told that it doesn't apply to the single track.  (Anybody know about the Micro engineering or Atlas bridges???)

 

There are two answers...

1. Do what the real RR did and restrict the affected to route... prohibiting Double Stacks... and possibly some other excess height cars... this should make your operators think a bit more...

OR...

2. Do the other thing the real RR did and amend the bridge design ... raising the cross braces on shoes/brackets so that they are raised clear of the new height requirement *.  (If you think this is difficult... think what you would have to do with a tunnel! Wink [;)])

* Some suppliers provide shoes/feet for girder bridges (Micro Eng for one I think)... you might try these complete or cut in half and placed on the top web of the truss with the brace then sitting on top of them... let us know if this works/ looks right please Cool [8D]

Have fun!   Tongue [:P]

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: 800 Mi. from Espee Siskiyou line MP. 630.6 Orygun
  • 298 posts
Posted by WP 3020 on Friday, August 4, 2006 7:33 AM
If you are going to do some testing, try using a double stack of domestic containers too. The prototype has the same issues at some locations. (a bridge or tunnel will have enough room for some double stack container combonations but not a double stack of domestic containers )
Railroads are "a device of Satan to lead immortal souls to hell." - an Ohio school board, 1831 - quoted in CTC Board 8/05 "If you ever wonder how you have freedom... Think, a veteran!!!" - My thought 1/08 Hey man, I don't have to try to remember the 60's... I lived too close to Eugene, Oregon.
  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Posted by jbinkley60 on Friday, August 4, 2006 4:39 AM

I am using code 83, the bridge track sections Walthers sells for this double track bridge.  I'll do some more tsting.  I have a few different sets of double stacks.  I'll see if they all are impacted or just a particular set.  The one I checked was the new set from Athearn, 72561 Husky Stack Well Car w/containers.  I've got a couple of Walthers well cars and separate trailers.  I'll do more testing and post results.

 

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

  • Member since
    January 2004
  • 790 posts
Posted by Tilden on Friday, August 4, 2006 12:51 AM

I use one of the double track bridges and agree with cacole.  Double stacks fit...just barely.  If the containers are not completely seated in the car or on each other, it can be enough to snag when they pass through.  Also, if the bridge is right after or just before a curve it can make a difference, the car swing can put the edge of a container into a brace.  And...what size of track are you using.  I'm using code 83 and would guess code 100 might be high enough to cause problems and either way it must be laid directly on the bridge, no extra road bed.  One more possible cause could be any adjustments you've made to the bolsters for coupler height.

I like the shofly idea.  That would be a neat detail.

Good luck.

  • Member since
    March 2006
  • From: Holland MI
  • 624 posts
Posted by CSXFan on Thursday, August 3, 2006 10:04 PM
I don't mean to hijack this topic but what about the N scale bridges? I will have one as a main focal point on my future layout and I don't want any clearance problems.
If you're not living on the edge, you're taking up too much space...Wink
  • Member since
    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
  • 13,757 posts
Posted by cacole on Thursday, August 3, 2006 5:25 PM

Maybe Walthers has changed the design of their bridge, because we have one of them on our HO-scale club layout that has been in place for over 5 years and have no problems with double-stacks clearing it -- but just barely.

 

  • Member since
    September 2002
  • 7,486 posts
Posted by ndbprr on Thursday, August 3, 2006 4:35 PM
Well if you have to run double stacks how about a shoofly around the bridge.  That is a temporary track on a temporary bridge while the truss is being installed or worked on.
  • Member since
    February 2001
  • From: Poconos, PA
  • 3,948 posts
Posted by TomDiehl on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 9:36 PM

I've run into this problem with Athearn, Walthers, and some scratchbuilt doublestack cars, mine were mainly on the tunnel portals. All of these did not clear the NMRA check gauge at the point where the car hit the portal, so staying with the NMRA recommended clearances seems to eliminate this problem.

On another note, years ago, I had clearance problems with the Atlas Warren Truss bridge. I had to trim off the inside gussets to clear the steps and trucks, so this type problem is nothing new.

Smile, it makes people wonder what you're up to. Chief of Sanitation; Clowntown
  • Member since
    February 2006
  • From: Gahanna, Ohio
  • 1,987 posts
Double stacks ?
Posted by jbinkley60 on Wednesday, August 2, 2006 6:55 PM

I saw in an Atlas website forum someone mentioned that double stacks won't fit through the Walthers double-track truss 933-3012 bridge.  Sure enough I checked and they are right. I have one of these bridges on my mainline.  Has anyone else ran into this yet ?  And a solution (beyond single stacks) ?

 

 

 

Engineer Jeff NS Nut
Visit my layout at: http://www.thebinks.com/trains/

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!