bridge over my pond

[Anonymous]

is there a web site on how to build a bridge? and what supplies are needed.

i just put my pond in and now i need a wooden bridge.I really cant afford a 150.00 prebuilt one, so i wanted to build it myself. its only 36 inchins long so i thought i could handle that , if i only had some kind of plans..

any help would be greatly apreciated

Jeff

[Anonymous]

Hi saboja
cant help on web site there have been a couple of articals in garden railways mag though..
It isnt what you want but this may be a possable solution.
Being the impatient type I can some times be I think I would be getting some 2" upvc pipe seting two lengths of that in concrete in a plastic bucket
doing that a couple of times when the concrete is well and truly dry
dropping those in the pond for bridge piers and going and getting a bit of rectangular upvc down pipe and making it look like a plate girder bridge, and puting that across the pond the track sits on the top with guard rails inside an outside the track.
One bridge that won't rot and will slow speed freaks down
regards John.

[Rene Schweitzer]

Jeff,

Do you like truss-rod bridges? You can purchase a set of (inexpensive, $1.50) plans that once ran in the magazine here: http://www.sidestreet.info/railways/plans.html

Scroll down to number 43 and click on the link for a picture.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Rene,

thats what im looking for!!!

thanks again
Jeff

[Kiwi Down Under]

Jeff
If your wise, and if your using track power, put an emergency switch in that isolates that piece of track over the water. I did just in case and if I had not my locos would have been swimming by now.

I have the switch on a trellis archway about 5 metres (15ft) from the bridge and easy to use.
I made sure that my track was perfect with the run up to the bridge over a pond but why some mothers little darlings want to see the train come off, lord knows, but it happens , so take it from me, that switch has been well worth it.

Interesting though, with all the articles I have seen about tracks over water etc I cant recall anyone mentioning an isolating switch.

Tony.

[Anonymous]

well my first attept to scratch build a bridge.......works great except i didnt allow for the curve before and after the straight track....OPPPPS
even though i learned sooo much, and it wasnt built really really well, it was a nice learning project.

thanks Tony for the tip, but my locos cant make the dreded plunge! and the rail was soldered on each end :-)

im will post my pic in a few days.....

Jeff

[Andrew Simpson]

Hi Saboja, the truss rod bridge can be built up to a 10 foot span and double track. It is also 4 foot above the pond. Use good quality materials for the bigger the span distance. Mine is made from red gum fence palings cut down to size. Timber was free but it used 3 band saw blades to cut. Red gum is a hard wood and easy to obtain out here in Oz. Bridges are quiet a feature over the pond in the back yard.
Regards Andrew

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by saboja

well my first attept to scratch build a bridge.......works great except i didnt allow for the curve before and after the straight track....OPPPPS
even though i learned sooo much, and it wasnt built really really well, it was a nice learning project.

thanks Tony for the tip, but my locos cant make the dreded plunge! and the rail was soldered on each end :-)

im will post my pic in a few days.....

Jeff

Hi Jeff,
Looking forward to seeing the pics. [tup] Just remember when it comes to scratchbuilding we all started somewhere. Good for you for giving it a try. [:D] Later eh...Brian. [8D]

[Anonymous]

here are some pics.... the bridge is just sitting there for looks now :(
http://photos.yahoo.com/ja_sabo

[bman36]

QUOTE: Originally posted by saboja

here are some pics.... the bridge is just sitting there for looks now :(
http://photos.yahoo.com/ja_sabo

There ya' go! Gonna' stain it or just let it weather? Now that was'nt so hard now was it? Keep at it pal. This is what having fun is all about. Later eh...Brian. [tup] [8D]

[mryombee]

I picked up a good book published by Model Railroader, called "Bridges & Trestles"

The book is set up to give you dimensions in actual feet. This works for me.

I use 1/2 in = 1 foot

I ws told that this book was originally set up for HO, but from what I have seen, it would be great for any scale.

Good luck

[smcgill]

I to got the same book, to get idea's on tressells.
This has a lot of great stuff you probaly didn't think of!

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by saboja

here are some pics.... the bridge is just sitting there for looks now :(
http://photos.yahoo.com/ja_sabo

hi jeff
i'm the new guy rob. i to have some pic's on yahoo,and i can;tseem topost them on the forum .look at "i'll keep trying" i just can't get it.if you can help .please fill free to tell me where i went wrong.
p.s the r.r looks good and keep it up
thanks
rob

[majnnj]

Heres a Bridge I built using plans from GardenTexture.com web site
plans were about 14$ supplies another 30$
Build completly from cedar and weather perserved
Good Luck

[markperr]

Built this from plans off the web from George Schreyer's "How to build a cheap and dirty Howe Truss Bridge"



It's 26 ft long. A little longer than what you need. Took about a month to make.
So, divide by nine and you've got roughly three/four days tops to build a three footer.

Mark[:D]

[Anonymous]

I cheated [:p], I just spliced two Aristo Covered bridge kits together and reinforced it with a hidden bit of aluminum bar stock. You couldn't really even see the splice until my daughter's cat decided it was purr-fect for crawling through and got stuck [:(]

[ghelman]

Saboja,
Here is the link that Mark mentioned for building a truss bridge.
George Schreyer's page
http://www.trainweb.org/girr/tips/tips2/howe_truss.html
Nice bridge Mark.
I used his plan as well, but, not as long.

This is another bridge that I built using some of the same principles as the truss bridge.