JT505 Thank you all for the quick and informative responses. I now know what shoe-to-shoe is, thanks. I think I need to buy the item and then finish the tight dimensions of that part of my layout. Small changes to the crossing angles of the above and below tracks makes a big difference in the clearnace dimensions between the abutments. Thanks again.
Thank you all for the quick and informative responses. I now know what shoe-to-shoe is, thanks. I think I need to buy the item and then finish the tight dimensions of that part of my layout. Small changes to the crossing angles of the above and below tracks makes a big difference in the clearnace dimensions between the abutments.
Thanks again.
Yes, it is a good idea to pysically have the bridge for construting your abutments. Each bridge will need different specs for the width and height of the "shoe shelf" of the abutment. If this bridge is open deck it should use "taller" bridge ties, Figure the railhead height to the shoe bottom for the shelf dimension. Don't forget to figure the ballast/ gravel stop @ the top of the abutment. This can be concrete as part of the abutment, added stone or tie pending your era.
A shoe shelf isn't nec for a pier that will join 2 similar bridges, however different heights due to varying bridge girders will need adjustment/ shimming or shelf even on a pier.
I like to install "subabutments" that are actually risers. You will note that I have allowed for a 1/4" plaster casting to be applied to the face. The shos barely rest on the wood at this point.
Abutments can be altered production ones or fabricated from all sorts of products. Some make thier own casting with the shelf or just cut pine or foam.
Shoe shelf is actually the plaster stone veneer on the abutment, The 2 CV bridges work for the same shoe rest on the pier.
Modeling B&O- Chessie Bob K. www.ssmrc.org
JT505 Is this the actual inside dimension for the portal-to-portal dimension supporting the bridge.
Is this the actual inside dimension for the portal-to-portal dimension supporting the bridge.
I think you mean by "portal-to-portal" the distance into which the bridge fits. So, no, it doesn't mean that. Shoe to shoe would be the distance between the bridge shoes. It would most likely be between the center of one shoe to the center of the other shoe.
So the overall length of the bridge will be a bit longer. And the "portal-to-portal" a bit more, since you need some clearance at the ends of the bridge. For exact dimensions you'll probably have to measure the bridge, but my guess is that the "portal-to-portal" is very roughly 11-3/4". That's VERY roughly.
Ed
A bridge shoe is what the bridge sits on. Here are some examples of real ones. Hope this helps.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
Welcome to the forum!Bridge Shoes are actualy the pads the structure rests on & keeps it affixed in position. Many allow the bridge to expand & contract with temperature changes etc. I accidentlly call them bridge feet sometimes, In the picture below you can see the 4 shoes I added onto the girder span sitting atop the piers. Hope that helps.
I have a very tight N-scale layout and I want to use a Central Valley (CVM-1815) Truss Bridge. The site says the shoe-to-shoe dimension is 11-1/4". I really don't know what shoe-to-show means. Is this the actual inside dimension for the portal-to-portal dimension supporting the bridge. The larger the dimension the better.
Thanks in advance.