Bridge troubles

[Anonymous]

I have been trying to put in a double track bridge
for a few weeks and thought I had it but forgot to insert an insulator for a block. I'm waiting to get one from a friend. While messing with it I somehow have thrown off the two tracks from being straight. I have tried connecting the sections from the bridge joints out and the the other way around. No matter how I go it ends up "out of whack". Trying to keep the sections straight with the bridge track is hard. Would any one have any ideas?

PS. I have to slightly bend the sections so it joins together. I heard this is normal, but also heard it should never be done. Which is correct?

[Anonymous]

You are tuging on Superman's cape by bending the track. I would pull up the track for a foot on each side of the bridge and relay it so it is straight when it connects to the bridge.

[Anonymous]

Brian, use a small tool like a screw driver, and gently tap at the end of a rail joiner, sliding it back just past one rail, then slide the one on the other rail back as well. Gently pry up the track nails, and remove them for now. lift the loose track section up just enough to clear the other track section, and slip this section out of the joiners at the other end. One or both may come off with this section, its OK. Remove the metal joiner and replace with a plastic one. Slide the two joiners at the other end back onto this section. (Because some plastic joiners have a gap plug in the center to prevent shorts), slide the plastic joiners on this section of track, onto the bridge track first, and lay the section back down flat onto the roadbed where it was. Align the metal joiners with the other track on the layout, and slide them in place. Replace the track nails and you are done. You only had to remove one section of track. See?