Swing-up, swing-down bridges,,, questions

[Boyd]

Anyone have any advise for making swing-up and swing-down bridges? Is it a good idea to stagger the rails of the joining tracks (like fastrac) to keep engines from reversing on the bridge?

[mitchelr]

Anyone have any advise for making swing-up and swing-down bridges? Is it a good idea to stagger the rails of the joining tracks (like fastrac) to keep engines from reversing on the bridge?

 

Boyd  - I don't use fastrack, but up I have a swing up bridge with tubular track.  I have a jumper on the hinged end to feed power to the bridge but have had no problem with the engines reversing at the gap.  I did however have a BIG problem when I applied power to the track with the bridge down and an engine ran right off onto the floor.  My beautiful pristine 2025 steamer hit the concrete floor with a thud.  I was able to repair it but I never park an engine facing the gap now.  I have also read about wiring so that the approaches to the bridge are dead unless the bridge is locked in place.  There was an article in a recent CTT (within the last year) about building and wiring lift bridges, etc.

Take care.

Mitch