I have reached the point where I need to install my scratch built bridge and towers on the layout so that I can finish the project by installing the counterweight chains and the sheave and pulley cables.
My first thread on this scratch build project covered the bridge.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/274913.aspx
My second thread on this scratch build project covered the towers.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/275386.aspx
So, now, I have to modify the layout surface to accommodate the bridge and towers. Here is a photo of the bridge and towers sitting on the layout, but I cannot install it in place until I make provision for the towers which must sit below grade to match the tower decks to the height of the bridge track work.
So, I have removed the track and the affected plywood surface. Now, I need to contemplate how I am going to retrofit the affected area to properly install the bridge and towers. The large open area will eventually become the river bed over which the bridge spans.
Here is a photo of the actual bridge which spans the South Branch of the Chicago River just south of downtown Chicago at 21st Street and Canal Street.
Alton Junction
Looks good Rich!
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
Rich, the bridge and towers look great.
In the first pic, think the 1x attached to the 2x is low enough to make enough for a river bank. It looks to me like the towers sit partially in the river and partially on the track grade, so the width looks about right. Just remove that thin piece of ply in the first pic and I think you'll have the basic foundation of the scene in place.
The track curve on the left looks like it might be a bit close to the approach to the tower, however.
- Douglas
Looks great Rich! I much do you have to recess it into the lay out?
I see a few possibilities.
Mike.
My You Tube
Rich ... Your bridge is fantastic !
GARRY
HEARTLAND DIVISION, CB&Q RR
EVERYWHERE LOST; WE HUSTLE OUR CABOOSE FOR YOU
Thanks all, Henry, Mike, Garry. I appreciate your support for the project. As it nears completion, it has been a gratifying journey from packages of parts to something that actually looks like a vertical lift bridge.
Rich
Doughless Rich, the bridge and towers look great. In the first pic, think the 1x attached to the 2x is low enough to make enough for a river bank. It looks to me like the towers sit partially in the river and partially on the track grade, so the width looks about right. Just remove that thin piece of ply in the first pic and I think you'll have the basic foundation of the scene in place. The track curve on the left looks like it might be a bit close to the approach to the tower, however.
Your comments have given me some good ideas how to move along with what I call the retrofit of the affected area. I will work on these ideas today and post a report on my progress.
One thing is for certain. Being a vertical lift bridge, it sits low above the water as you can see in that prototype photo. So, as you suggest, I don't need to provide for much clearance.
Thanks again.
Rich, I have been quietly following this whole project. You have done an outstanding job with this, it really looks great.
Sheldon
richhotrain Douglas, thanks for those comments. Yesterday, after I removed some of the plywood surface, I just kinda stood there staring at the affected area and wasn't sure what to do next. So, I came upstairs from the layout and began looking at some extensive photos that I had taken of the scene. Your comments have given me some good ideas how to move along with what I call the retrofit of the affected area. I will work on these ideas today and post a report on my progress. One thing is for certain. Being a vertical lift bridge, it sits low above the water as you can see in that prototype photo. So, as you suggest, I don't need to provide for much clearance. Thanks again. Rich
Douglas, thanks for those comments. Yesterday, after I removed some of the plywood surface, I just kinda stood there staring at the affected area and wasn't sure what to do next. So, I came upstairs from the layout and began looking at some extensive photos that I had taken of the scene.
I think if you simply attached 1x2s along the bottom edge of the 2x4s and installed plywood across the span (like you did with what looks like 1x3s in the first pic), you'd have a starting point as the base of the river, with the proper height on each side for the banks. It looks to me like the towers would be partially in the river but mostly on the banks.
The notch created by the subroadbed and river base could easily be filled with dense styrofoam and carved to shape the banks.
It would be interesting to see how far into the ailse you choose to extend the river.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL Rich, I have been quietly following this whole project. You have done an outstanding job with this, it really looks great. Sheldon
Doughless I think if you simply attached 1x2s along the bottom edge of the 2x4s and installed plywood across the span (like you did with what looks like 1x3s in the first pic), you'd have a starting point as the base of the river, with the proper height on each side for the banks. It looks to me like the towers would be partially in the river but mostly on the banks. The notch created by the subroadbed and river base could easily be filled with dense styrofoam and carved to shape the banks. It would be interesting to see how far into the ailse you choose to extend the river.
The bridge turned out very nicely, Rich, but I'd put the water level a bit lower than has been suggested. That piece of lumber, against the wall in your second photo, is a bit too low, but I think that putting the water's surface about half-way up the height of the two pieces alongside the aisle should be just about right. That would allow the passage of small craft, as in the third photo, to pass under the span without needing to have the bridge actually lift, as it would work out to about 10'-12'HO of clearance.
Regardless of the water level you choose, you've done a great kitbash of the Walthers spans and an admirable job on scratchbuilding the support towers, too.
Wayne
Wayne, thanks very much. I appreciate your kind words and your advice.
Regarding the bridge clearance, the prototype PRR bridge that I am modeling only has a clearance of 10' 6.5" in the lowered position compared to the standard clearance of 16' 6". In HO scale, that 10' 6.5" clearance is only 1.379". Even with a standard clearance of 16' 6", that is only 2.275".
The Walthers Arched Pratt bridge that I built has a 3/4" deck. Since the river surface will be 4.0" below the layout surface, the clearance will be 3 1/4". That is a scale clearance of slightly more than 23.5'. So, I am already exceeding the prototype clearance by more than double.
richhotrain...The Walthers Arched Pratt bridge that I built has a 3/4" deck. Since the river surface will be 4.0" below the layout surface, the clearance will be 3 1/4". That is a scale clearance of slightly more than 23.5'. So, I am already exceeding the prototype clearance by more than double....
Yeah, I think that I misread or misinterpreted Douglas' first response, where he suggested simply removing the plywood in your first photo. I interpreted it as using the 1" material as the support for the riverbed.
doctorwayne richhotrain ...The Walthers Arched Pratt bridge that I built has a 3/4" deck. Since the river surface will be 4.0" below the layout surface, the clearance will be 3 1/4". That is a scale clearance of slightly more than 23.5'. So, I am already exceeding the prototype clearance by more than double.... Yeah, I think that I misread or misinterpreted Douglas' first response, where he suggested simply removing the plywood in your first photo. I interpreted it as using the 1" material as the support for the riverbed. Wayne
richhotrain ...The Walthers Arched Pratt bridge that I built has a 3/4" deck. Since the river surface will be 4.0" below the layout surface, the clearance will be 3 1/4". That is a scale clearance of slightly more than 23.5'. So, I am already exceeding the prototype clearance by more than double....
I believe that Douglas was eyeballing the thickness of the plywood and estimated that it could be removed and the bridge dropped in place, perhaps without anymore modification than that. Trouble is, the bridge is 29.5", but the towers add another 10", so I need to create a 39.5" opening. And, the drop below the layout surface needs to be 3/4" whereas that plywood sheet is only 1/2" thick.
I've been away for a while but when I return, I always check what's going on around here.
It looks to me like things are going great with the Bridge Rich. Looking good Kid.
If I had a project like yours going on, I wouldn't be able to wait till morning to jump up out of bed and continue.
Believe me, I have been there.
Prost TF
Enthusiasm and it shows
Bedautiful job, Rich! I should show these photos to a woman in our building. We have an active antique here in town and to hear people talk, you'd think our "aerial lift bridge" was unique. She argued up, down, and sideways that it's one of two ever built. Of course, the original, a weird gondola-like conveyance, built in the early part of the 20th century might just have been "one of only two ever built." Early automobiles and horse-drawn wagons and pedestrians entered this short bridge-like structure on one side, then it was drawn up to the horizontal span above, where it traveled a short distance like an overhead crane trolley, then let down on the other side. Because it was so rare, when it broke down, they replaced it with a lift span--like all the hundreds of other vertical lift bridges in the world. I used to live in a small town that had one, and I believe there were a couple of them spanning the Chicago River. To quote Mork: "Heavy sigh..."
Again, yours is a work of art, very realistic!
Deano
Thanks so much, Deano. I appreciate your kind words about the project.
By the way, here is a link to a short history and photos of your aerial lift bridge in Duluth:
https://www.dot.state.mn.us/historicbridges/L6116.html
I spent a good portion of yesterday and today cutting open the layout to install the vertical lift bridge and the towers. I have posted some preliminary photos to give everyone who may be interested an idea of what I am trying to accomplish.
The plywood sheets over which the bridge spans are part of the eventual river bed. For the moment, I still need access so I am not yet in a position to complete the entire river bed.
Right now, the bridge and towers are temporarily sitting on 1 x 4 boards which actually measure 3/4" x 3 1/2". The final setup will be on 1 x 3 boards which actually measure 3/4" x 2 1/2" with a 3/4" thick cover for a final height of 3 1/4". This will align the bridge and towers with the track on the main layoout surface. I need to get over to Home Depot to pick up some 1 x 3 boards.
All of that open framework on either side of the river will be re-covered with the original 1/2" thick plywood surface once I complete the bridge/towers installation. I am still trying to decide how to grade the area around the towers, that is whether to slope toward the river or continue the high embankment.
I'll bet you are pretty anxious to see (and hear) your first train trundle across that bridge, Rich. It truly is a masterpiece and your efforts are going to reward you with hours of enjoyment and pride.
Thanks for all your efforts to share your design and construction process and to allow us to "go along for the ride" from the very beginning.
Regards, Ed
gmpullman I'll bet you are pretty anxious to see (and hear) your first train trundle across that bridge, Rich. It truly is a masterpiece and your efforts are going to reward you with hours of enjoyment and pride. Thanks for all your efforts to share your design and construction process and to allow us to "go along for the ride" from the very beginning.
I did not start out with the intention of sharing the design and construction process but it somehow did turn into that. I do find these kinds of threads to be informative and inspiring, so if that has occurred here, then I couldn't be more pleased.
richhotrainI won't claim it to be a masterpiece, but I am pleased with it,
Well then, allow us to do it for you! Your workmanship is excellent and the bridge is impressive. I'd say it qualifies as a masterpiece.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
richhotrainI do find these kinds of threads to be informative and inspiring, so if that has occurred here, then I couldn't be more pleased.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
hon30critter richhotrain I won't claim it to be a masterpiece, but I am pleased with it, Well then, allow us to do it for you! Your workmanship is excellent and the bridge is impressive. I'd say it qualifies as a masterpiece. Dave
richhotrain I won't claim it to be a masterpiece, but I am pleased with it,
JaBear While, for posterities sake, I would query the need for three threads
While, for posterities sake, I would query the need for three threads
When I finished the bridge, I decided to close off that first thread. I hadn't intended or expected the thread to be one about a project build. My initial question was about extending the length of the bridge span by adding an additional center section or two.
Once the bridge was done, I just thought that starting a second thread to document the building of the towers might be the way to go. I blame all of the Spring rains here in the Midwest for that third thread. I did not plan to finish the project until Fall, but all of that rain got in the way of golf, so I needed something to do. That said, I promise not to start a fourth thread.
Looks good Rich.
Doughless Looks good Rich.
It seems to me like this next phase of the project took longer than it should have, but I really struggled with it.
With the bascule bridges and truss bridges on my layout, installation was pretty straight forward. The bridge decks had to sit lower than the layout surface so that the bridge track aligned vertically with the track on the layout. So, I simply had to add piers at either end of the bridge approximately 3/4" lower than the surface of the layout.
But, with the vertical lift bridge, the towers presented a problem. The tower decks needed to align horizontally with the bridge deck which meant that the tower decks would be placed below the surface of the layout. So, to make the tower decks visible, the layout area around the towers needed to be opened up and lowered or sloped to make the tower decks visible.
Anyway, I finally got it all worked out. Once the area is landscaped and all of that bare wood is covered and the river water added, it will look much better. But, I am getting closer to what the final scene would look like.
The bridge track has been ordered and will be delivered soon and then I can finalize the track leading into and over the bridge and install the counterweights and the balancing chains. After I test trains over the bridge and eliminate any possibility of derailments or uncouplings, I can install the cables on the pulleys and finish the project.
richhotrain The bridge track has been ordered and will be delivered soon and then I can finalize the track leading into and over the bridge and install the counterweights and the balancing chains. After I test trains over the bridge and eliminate any possibility of derailments or uncouplings, I can install the cables on the pulleys and finish the project. Rich
Here is a photo of the final installation of the vertical life bridge, complete with cables and chains.
The following photo shows a closeup of one of the counterweights with steel cables and chains attached to the counterweight.
The steel cables were made out of thin brass rod which was easily bent over the sheaves. A big thank you to Frank (zstripe) who suggested this approach.
The following photos show the pulley system and cables. The cables are nylon cord that I picked up at Michaels along with costume jewelry chains that I used for the counterweights.
My final challenge was to complete the tower decks that hold the sheaves. I needed to add protective covers over the sheaves and add hand hand rails for safety purposes. A big thank you to Ed (gpullman) for his research on this issue.
So, that completes the construction and installation of the scratchbuilt vertical lift bridge. My thanks to all who contributed to this series of threads.
WOW, now that is a bridge! Being from Chicago I've seen this in person, and your model really captures the image.
Truly a labor of love, and you are to be "attaboyed" for overcoming all the difficulties involved along the way.
Having seen what you did with the bascale bridges on your previous layout, I can't wait to see this one "scenicked in".
Great job!!!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central