General Discussion (Model Railroader)

This may give you a method to get around building a timber trestle, and it will be durable, and easily fit to your particular scenery.  If you are open to steel bridges it may simplify your construction, as well as speed it up.  At a minimum, you could use this to build concrete footings for your bridges or trestles. 
Don't be too critical of the scenery, as I had to rough it in quickly before I moved and tore down the layout.....
I made concrete bridge pilons by building plywood forms.  I cast them with 45 min drywall plaster that you get at the hardware store.  When mixing the powder, I use water that I first mix in quite a bit of Elmers.  My reasoning was that the glue seemed to make the plaster more durable so it would not crack or chip.  This way, you can make any size pilons or abutements you need to fit the space you have.  If you use plywood, you get a nice grain that looks like old, weathered concrete when you color it and weather it.  Make sure the grain goes horizontally. The ones in the picture are white, but I just sprayed on a diluted mix of the Woodland Scenics oncrete color and it looks really nice.  I did use it on the WS retaining walls and tunnel portal. 

 

 

 

nw_fan:

If you are open to steel bridges it may simplify your construction, as well as speed it up.

I think I like!! I'm actually looking at these and thinking about the Hydrocal I've been using to cast the WS rocks and tunnel liners. I can see building these out of the foam, coating them with the Hydrocal, then carving in some lines and weathering to make them look like poured concrete. Looks like I have a plan for this weekend. Thanks, NW, for the idea!

Skip

Hi Skip: Here's my suggestion to get you going. Start with the tunnel in the back. Lay your track from, say the bridge on the left, through the tunnel(make it bullet proof), and up the incline at the right. Wire that section of track. At least drop feeders.Then, put down whatever you're using for your scenery base,(plaster, sculptamold,etc.) on your mountain and surrounding areas. Install portals, if using them. Then paint the base an earth color. Then add basic scenery, grass, bushes, trees,etc. Then, build on the section that you've pretty much completed. Complete a section to the left or right, and before you know it, you'll be at the ballasting phase. Also, decide what buildings you want, build a few and decide where they are going to go. Are you going to have any roads, allow space for them. I've found that if you work a section at a time, it helps keep up your interest. As to your indecision on a trestle, you might want to consider a ballasted deck girder bridge. This is just my opinion.

Grampys Trains:

you might want to consider a ballasted deck girder bridge.

Grampy, do you have a picture or a link to a "ballasted deck girder bridge"? I'm a newbie, so not sure what one is.

Also, I've decided to go ahead and lay plaster cloth on all the track and attach it to nearby scenery so that I can get the track laid. I'm just doing the mainline, as suggested here, but I'll be back at a stopping part when I get to the bridge in front of the layout until I decide which one to go with. Thanks to all for the help past my "down time".

Skip

 

 Hi Skip: Sure, it's a girder bridge with a concrete trough and is ballasted like reg. track. Here's one.

 

 

 When I run out of ideas I use the forums for inspiration. 

  Well, let's see some progress shots!

nw_fan:

  Well, let's see some progress shots!

I'll try to post some, although, not much to report. I got all the plaster cloth layed down, pinned the tracks into place and have been running the train for the last couple of evenings, but I'm headed to Bristol in the morning for Sunday's race, so it'll be Monday before I can post anything. Y'all have a good weekend and GO TONY STEWART!

Skip

 

nw_fan:

  Well, let's see some progress shots!

OK, here is the update, but don't get too excited. Haven't done anything in about a week and a half. But, at least the track is down enough for me to run the trains for a while. I've marked the tracks and will be pulling it back up, laying roadbed, then laying the track for good...can't wait!

Overall shot...

Right side mountain done...

Still deciding on what to do with these bridges....

Where the town and passenger terminal will be going...

Left side mountain (as much as can be done before I lay track for good inside tunnel...

The loco with a few cars I've built, but not weathered, yet....

 

As far as I can tell, the next step (after laying the track) is to scenic the river, so I can install the bridges over it, then start working on th etown's buildings. Any comments???
Skip

 

Nope its not just you.  Momma caught me deep in thought to the UP gods one day.

and another to the tree placement god.

I think we've all been there once.