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Any of you guys make your own bridge?

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Posted by peahrens on Thursday, February 4, 2021 7:22 PM

Here's another Central Valley truss plus girder bridge combo.  Scratch built is beyond my current ambition, but I admire the excellent, imaginative work shown.

 20210204_190600 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr

 20210204_190714 by Paul Ahrens, on Flickr

 

Paul

Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent

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Posted by NVSRR on Thursday, February 4, 2021 5:42 PM

 

The bridge in the foreground is completely scratch build 12 years ago.   The one in the background started as a tyco bachmann truss bridge.  Joined together to make a double track bridge.  most of the members cut out and more scale ones put in.    I did that with a second one as well. 

 

Shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

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Posted by nwsisu on Thursday, February 4, 2021 11:08 AM

I designed and 3D printed this HO-scale bridge. Nothing prototypical about it.

I think the frames are too thick, obscuring the view too much, so I will probably improve the design and print a new one.

It is a 2-level bridge, the site is still under construction

3D printed HO-scale bridge

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Posted by dew3896 on Thursday, February 4, 2021 9:33 AM

Really impressive inspiring bridgework.  Thanks to all who have posted.

DEW

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Posted by NVSRR on Thursday, February 4, 2021 6:45 AM

I am not far from starting to scratch build a link and pin bridge. Should be interesting

 

Shane

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

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Posted by BEAUSABRE on Thursday, February 4, 2021 12:56 AM

An invaluable reference is Paul Mallery's "Bridge and Trestle Handbook"

Bridge and trestle handbook for model railroaders: Mallery, Paul: Amazon.com: Books

 

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  • From: Bedford, MA, USA
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Posted by MisterBeasley on Friday, January 29, 2021 1:19 PM

philo426

Yes I want to build one of those Central Valley or Atlas bridge kits!

I built a Central Valley Pratt Truss bridge in HO.  It's not a trivial kit, as most of the girder sections are not cut to size and all must be measured and cut by hand.  I took my time, though, and was very happy with the final product.

The superstructure of the bridge is totally ornamental, with all the weight being supported by metal beams in the base beneath the track.

 

It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse. 

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Posted by philo426 on Friday, January 29, 2021 12:16 PM

Post pics please!

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Posted by rrebell on Friday, January 29, 2021 11:05 AM

I built a Central Valley but built it shorter, also a high steel trestle.

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Posted by Great Northern Fan 54 on Thursday, January 28, 2021 8:17 PM
No, I am too nervous. I don't like the idea of me discovering how sturdy my bridge is when the freight train crosses it.
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Posted by philo426 on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 9:43 AM

You are correct sir!Elaborate curved radius trestle looks like a ton of work! 

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Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 8:05 AM

NICE!!!

I was delighted to stumble across this thread!  I have always loved bridges and there sure is Fantastic ones posted hereBow

 

Extremely ImpressiveYes

 

 

TF

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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 1:10 AM

My first model railroad scratchbuild.

That's pretty good Bear!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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Posted by "JaBear" on Tuesday, December 22, 2020 12:19 AM

My first model railroad scratchbuild.

Stone viaduct by Bear, on Flickr

"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."

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Posted by philo426 on Monday, December 21, 2020 5:24 PM

Decided to paint it gray..

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Posted by philo426 on Monday, December 21, 2020 11:06 AM

Doing the tie plates.  

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Posted by philo426 on Monday, December 21, 2020 8:03 AM

Yes I want to build one of those Central Valley or Atlas bridge kits!

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Posted by doctorwayne on Monday, December 21, 2020 1:10 AM

I agree, Dave, lots of great-looking bridges. 

I do scratchbuilt footings, piers, and abutments, but most of my bridges are kitbashed from various manufacturers' bridge kits...

...but this little concrete arch is the only completely-scratchbuilt one I've built...

Wayne

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  • From: Bradford, Ontario
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Posted by hon30critter on Monday, December 21, 2020 12:28 AM

Wow guys!!!

Those are a lot of very impressive bridges!BowThumbs UpWowYeah

Cheers!!

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

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  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
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Posted by SeeYou190 on Sunday, December 20, 2020 11:13 PM

This was my grandest bridge.

I built it for the Scale Rails of Southwest Florida N scale train show layout back in 1992.

I have gotten lazy in my old age, and I am buying brass bridges.

-Kevin

Living the dream.

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Posted by ROBERT PETRICK on Sunday, December 20, 2020 9:15 PM

I like long-span bridges. Here are three.

Robert

 

LINK to SNSR Blog


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Posted by philo426 on Sunday, December 20, 2020 9:14 PM

Nice!Here it is on a couple of bridge piers...

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Posted by BigDaddy on Sunday, December 20, 2020 8:48 PM

A gift from my good friend Logan of Severna Park MR Club

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by wp8thsub on Sunday, December 20, 2020 8:25 PM

Yup.  Scratchbuilt, kitbashed, and kits.  All of them have scratchbuilt abutments.

DSC03127 (2)

by wp8thsub, on Flickr

DSC02751

by wp8thsub, on Flickr

DSC02761

by wp8thsub, on Flickr

Rob Spangler

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Posted by NVSRR on Sunday, December 20, 2020 6:54 PM

I was going to ask prototype or model.  I do both.   Most of the bridges on my layout are scratch built.  One kit and two kitbashed. 

A pessimist sees a dark tunnel

An optimist sees the light at the end of the tunnel

A realist sees a frieght train

An engineer sees three idiots standing on the tracks stairing blankly in space

  • Member since
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  • From: Vancouver Island, BC
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Posted by selector on Sunday, December 20, 2020 4:46 PM

Yes, I agree...some 'serious modeling' going on there. Smile

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Posted by philo426 on Sunday, December 20, 2020 4:24 PM

Most impressive guys!

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Posted by richhotrain on Sunday, December 20, 2020 3:43 PM

Here is my version of the PRR Vertical Lift Bridge in downtown Chicago. I kitbashed the Arched Pratt bridge from 3 kits and scratch built the towers and bridge tender's shack.

Rich

Full-View-III.jpg

Alton Junction

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Posted by tbdanny on Sunday, December 20, 2020 2:57 PM

I scratchbuilt a trestle for my On30 layout:

This is an older photo - the scenery around it has now been completed.  I used a trestle jig from Black Bear Construction to make the supports, and scratchbuilt the deck.

The Location: Forests of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon
The Year: 1948
The Scale: On30
The Blog: http://bvlcorr.tumblr.com

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