My 1950-1960 HO scale layout has a section of 2 parallel tracks, that will be elevated. the elevated section will be about 7 feet long with 3 curves totaling about 180 degrees. I am planning on scratch building this entire system.
I have 2 questions.
1. Would this elevated section typically be constructed of wood or steel, given the era that I am modeling. (I would like to do it in wood).
2. Could someone point me in the direction of somewhere to see what a typical 1950-1960 trestle would look like. A photo perhaps, that would show some detail.
thanx CCG
The images that came to mind for me were those in the movie "Unstoppable". Here's the only image I could find, but I'm sure others can help. I would imagine that this was constructed during the era you're interested in.
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
ccg My 1950-1960 HO scale layout has a section of 2 parallel tracks, that will be elevated. the elevated section will be about 7 feet long with 3 curves totaling about 180 degrees. I am planning on scratch building this entire system. I have 2 questions. 1. Would this elevated section typically be constructed of wood or steel, given the era that I am modeling. (I would like to do it in wood). 2. Could someone point me in the direction of somewhere to see what a typical 1950-1960 trestle would look like. A photo perhaps, that would show some detail. thanx CCG
There are a lot of variables here, including the height and length of the trestle, and whether it's a mainline where speed is important or a branch line.
Still, if your layout is set in the 50's or 60's, who's to say the trestle was built then? It could have been built of wood originally, then probably replaced with steel if / when necessary.
Connecticut Valley Railroad A Branch of the New York, New Haven, and Hartford
"If you think you can do a thing or think you can't do a thing, you're right." -- Henry Ford
Walthers has a bridge and trestle book, that showed me all I needed to know to build my trestle along with the templates to make the bents. It was simple to modify for my needs which were curved, high and single tracked. I built it upside down over a template I drew that I knew fit the space I had. It was a fun project and took about 8 weeks, working off and on.
Three pics, You can see the space in the background with the Sierra. Then a pic of the trestle and then a progress pic. The point is that it was not all that hard.
Dear Art
That's a gorgeous, gorgeous trestle!
Thanks for sharing.
--Jaddie
My answers and this discussion is based on the time frame you are modeling.Steel trestles and steel bridges were built as far back as the 1900's, maybe earlier. Some of them were still in use in the 50's and 60's. It really depends on the location in the country where your RR is located as to what type you can use, or get away with. I was in Texas in the 90's and wood trestles were still in use.My rule of thumb is; if you are modeling in the Western states, you could get away with wood trestles for anything except a major main line. If you are modeling in the Eastern states, I would use steel. And, if the trestle was located near or in a city setting anywhere, it would have been most likely been built of steel.Here is a link to a company that builds kits for the L, or Elevated railway that you might be able to use. These are actually wood kits that simulate steel.http://www.imaginethatlaserart.com/
Elmer.
The above is my opinion, from an active and experienced Model Railroader in N scale and HO since 1961.
(Modeling Freelance, Eastern US, HO scale, in 1962, with NCE DCC for locomotive control and a stand alone LocoNet for block detection and signals.) http://waynes-trains.com/ at home, and N scale at the Club.
Try this book:
http://www.kalmbachstore.com/12452.html
Jim Murray The San Juan Southern RR