Bamboo is the right size for a pile trestle, it's easy to cut using a very fine hobby saw, and before you stain, sand with a fine sandpaper, any high quality wood glue works, I have built 3 pile trestles and I'm sure I could stand on them, watch for slivers(splinters for you Americans) have some fun, dump the kit.
Which shape you would use will also depend on whether it is a Pile trestle or Frame trestle.
Pile trestles are probably the most widespread, but have two limitations. The ground conditions have to permit the pile to be driven far enough down to be solidly held. The remaining length of the pile above the ground will limit the maximum height. A pile trestle will have round vertical members.
Frame trestles will be used in areas where piles cannot be driven such as rock gullies, or when the track is too far above the ground for the piles to reach. This height can vary, since in soft ground the pile may have to be driven down very deep to hold. In the latter case a row of piles will be driven, and a cap sill placed across the top not far above ground (or water) level. Then the frame bent will be erected on top. Ideally there will be a matching pile under each frame leg. A framed bent will normally use squared timbers.
The sizes are as one of the previous posts indicate.
John
Unless your planning on building a model of the bridge over the river Kwai why would you want to use bamboo? No American prototype I have ever heard of used bamboo. As Mark mentioned bamboo does not take stain well if at all and you need to stain ever single piece of wood before you start building.
I would suggest if you have your heart set on a wooden trestle, there are plenty of manufactures of kits and parts who have doen all the hard work for you.
Further, I doubt bamboo would accept stain like basswood would. You're wasting your time with the bamboo skewers. Spend a few bucks on some 12by12 basswood stripwood and build yourself a proper trestle.
Mark
Bamboo skewers are extremely difficult to work with because they split when you try to cut them, and no common wood glue will stick.
Grand Central Gems sells some very nice pre-fab trestle bents in N, HO, and O scale.
I've built my trestles following Model Railroad Bridgees & Trestles book from Kalmbach.There you will find the prototype dimensions.
For my latest trestle I've surfed to Trestles – RGS Style. Order a few NBW bags!
Wolfgang
Pueblo & Salt Lake RR
Come to us http://www.westportterminal.de my videos my blog
1/8" is equivalent to 12'' in scale, either the bamboo or the 1/8" basswood will do, strip wood or cross bracing should be smaller, I found some old plans and they use 4'' x 8'' (3/64'' x 3/32'') for lots of cross bracing, in fact almost all cross bracing is 4'' x 8''. There are some plans for a wooden pile trestle in back issue MR from 06/04, page 68 and 69. Also check th
Train Fan I am wanting to build a HO scale wood trestle. Have some round 1/8" x 12" bamboo skewers left over from another project. Should I use these for the bents and use stripwood for the rest of the bracing or just use 1/8" x 1/8" basswood for the bents . Or what size stripwood should be used ? Any advice would be helpful , Thanks alot Train Fan
I am wanting to build a HO scale wood trestle. Have some round 1/8" x 12" bamboo skewers left over from another project. Should I use these for the bents and use stripwood for the rest of the bracing or just use 1/8" x 1/8" basswood for the bents . Or what size stripwood should be used ? Any advice would be helpful , Thanks alot Train Fan