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That's one heck of a long lift bridge, Sawyer! Stability is really going to suffer, and you're going to need a really good system for anchoring it at the ends. But since, knowing you, you're probably going to come up with a couple hundred different plans before you actually start building, we can tackle that if / when you get to it! [:-^] I made significant progress on my staging yard and lift bridge this week. I laid track in the staging yard and added a safety fence to shield the trains against the long drop as well as stray elbows. [IMG]http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee261/TrainManTy/P1040433.jpg[/IMG]The staging yard can hold 4 full-length trains.[IMG]http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee261/TrainManTy/P1040434.jpg[/IMG] In addition, I added the safety stop that cuts off power to the staging yard, bridge, and both approach tracks when the bridge is up. After two failed attempts using metal contacts (getting them to touch was a hit-or-miss scenerio) and momentary switches (reversed functions; bridge is up train goes, bridge is down train stops!) I finally hit on the solution using a default-off button. Now I have good contact, the switch triggers easily, and the train stops when the bridge goes up!Photo lights are really useful when taking photos under the benchwork! [:P] The tiny little pin is the button itself, with the wiring visible below. It's actually a complete mess down there, with a lot of remnants of old wiring from the two failed attempts before that. I ended up only isolating the inside rail, since with no ground, trains won't move. So I have a lot of redundant wires down there. The large dowels are my method of keeping the bridge in alignment. [IMG]http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee261/TrainManTy/P1040432.jpg[/IMG] Switches are coming tonight by UPS (a modeler's best friend!) and then I'll lay track over the bridge. Then I need to invite Greg over to cut the rails over the gaps with his Dremel. Xurons leave too big of a gap...
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