I accepted those previous figures without checking them. Now that I had kind of given up on the idea, I thought first i need to go back and have another look at the dimensions of kitbashing 2 of them side by side.
First off realize I am NOT talking about an operating model, but rather the image of a double wide bascule bridge where BOTH sides rise and lower in unison. Here is the way I think it would work,
Looking back at these photos,..
gmpullman The "operator's house" is a separate building, looking much like a post-War signal tower. Bascule_3 by Edmund, on Flickr Height of rail above footings is 1.375". The counterweight fits between the verticals. Bascule by Edmund, on Flickr Closest spacing you could get (without modification) with two bridges side-by-side would be 8-¾" track centers. You might be able to get that down to 8-¼" by trimming the platform a little. Bascule_2 by Edmund, on Flickr Bascule_1 by Edmund, on Flickr
The "operator's house" is a separate building, looking much like a post-War signal tower.
Bascule_3 by Edmund, on Flickr
Height of rail above footings is 1.375". The counterweight fits between the verticals.
Bascule by Edmund, on Flickr
Closest spacing you could get (without modification) with two bridges side-by-side would be 8-¾" track centers. You might be able to get that down to 8-¼" by trimming the platform a little.
Bascule_2 by Edmund, on Flickr
Bascule_1 by Edmund, on Flickr
What if we eliminate doubling up the two arms that would be next to one another when the two bridges were placed next to one another,..and eliminate the slight extra projection of that deck area. In other words we would only use ONE of those arms between the two bridges.
That would result in the two long bridge sections would only be separated by that 1/2" wide singular arm that is being 'shared' by both bridges.
The track centerline on either of the bridges is in the middle of the total width of 3.250" or 1.625" from the inside edges. And the edges of these two side-by-side bridges is now only separated by 1/2" . So the centerline distances between the tracks on this combo dbl track bridge should be 1.625 +1.625 + ,5" separation beam width = 3.750 inches. NOT so bad !!
Overall width of combo at outboard end would be 3.250 + 3.250 + .5 = 7" Overall width of combo at the motor house/ counterweight end would be 4" + 4" + .5" =8.5"
Any mistakes I made??
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
What was the track spacing (C/L to C/L)on that double bridge version? And could it have been closer??
Here are some photos of the double bascule bridge which replaced the single bascule bridge on my layout.
Alton Junction
Here are some restored photos of the single bascule bridge.
Rich
railandsail Just rediscovered this older thread of yours Rich. Too bad all the photos are missing.
Just rediscovered this older thread of yours Rich. Too bad all the photos are missing.
You need to have Adobe Flash player to watch this video of bridge being lowered:
http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/videos.php?bridgebrowser=truss/lake/&videonum=4&videoext=m2ts&w=800&h=450
There are other's....
Take Care!
Frank
zstripe They also have a double deck railroad bridge, but it is a lift bridge: https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-buildings-and-a-train-along-the-chicago-river-in-chicago-illinois-36621018.html
They also have a double deck railroad bridge, but it is a lift bridge:
https://www.alamy.com/stock-photo-buildings-and-a-train-along-the-chicago-river-in-chicago-illinois-36621018.html
That, there, is the Lake Street Bridge. It's rail on top, street below. And its a double fixed-trunnion bascule bridge. Here's some history on it:
http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=truss/lake/
It's really worth reading. I note that it has a backup hand brake. Just in case. Wonder if it was ever used, other than for practice.
Steel Bridge in Portland OR is also worth some study. It's a road over rail lift bridge. Of particular interest for the present conversation is that it telescopes. THAT could come in handy.
Ed
Frank's photo made me think of one possibility, albeit a bit pricey.
Here is a link to a pair of Scherzer Rolling Lift Bridges in Joliet, Illinois.
http://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=illinois/jefferson/#photosvideos
This pair of bridges is referred to as rolling lift bascule bridges.
You could buy a pair of these bridge kits from CMR Products.
https://www.custommodelrailroads.com/Rolling_Lift_Bridge.aspx
Brian,
Chicago has alot of double deck Bridges crossing the Chgo river mostly downtown and Lake Shore Dr. They are for both vehicular traffic and the Elevated "EL''. Some have the train on top, autos below and some are in reverse order. They all open in the center. Here is a link to one of them and do a little browsing on the site for other ones. Maybe You can get a few idea's. They also have a double deck railroad bridge, but it is a lift bridge:
You will more than likely have to make your own.....don't know of any available in kit or RTR.
Good Luck!
Sorry that Photobucket decided to delete those photos some time back. Those bascule bridges were the single leaf type.
https://www.walthers.com/operating-single-track-railroad-bascule-bridge-kit-33-1-2-x-3-x-11-quot-83-7-x-7-5-x-27-5-cm
You are looking for the double leaf type.
I am not aware of any HO scale double leaf bascule bridges.
I'm building a double deck layout in its own handi-house shed It has a large wide door at the entrance that needs a couple of 'entrance bridges' that can be moved aside relatively quickly. Because of the large width of the opening I am thinking it should be a 'split bridge' type like the bascule type where both of the two sides would swing up.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bascule_bridge
Since there are two decks these bridges need to raise up vertically in such a way as to end up vertical and stacked.
Does anyone have some good photos of 'entrance bridges' that might have been utilized on modular railroad displays at train shows?...or club layouts??...etc
Total span approximated at 42 inches,..double tracked on both levels.
This is an older mock up photo just to show the doorway entrance from the inside
ollevon Rich, That is some real fine craftsmanship work, you have done there. The one bridge in the open position looks great, and I can't decide which way I like better, because, one up, two up, both down, ether way, they are all fantastic. Great Job. Sam
Rich,
That is some real fine craftsmanship work, you have done there. The one bridge in the open position looks great, and I can't decide which way I like better, because, one up, two up, both down, ether way, they are all fantastic. Great Job.
Sam
Thanks for those kind words, Sam.
It is interesting to hear that others feel the same way about leaving one or both of those bridges raised.
I need to spend a little more time with my track work so that it is easier to manually lift the bridges. Right now, I have the track work fixed in place.
BATMAN I think an expansion to the layout is in order. Taking it in to civilization to where a bridge like that would look good. We have (had) his and hers Bascule bridges in Victoria. I may have a closer look and see if I could model that scene somehow.
I think an expansion to the layout is in order. Taking it in to civilization to where a bridge like that would look good. We have (had) his and hers Bascule bridges in Victoria. I may have a closer look and see if I could model that scene somehow.
Brent,
What can I say besides WOW, that pair of bridges in Victoria are magnificent.
Go for it! Expand that layout. Just leave more room than I did for the tug boat.
richhotrain
Well, as per your PM. to me Rich I returned for another look at the risk of having another sleepless night. How could you be so cruel??? I see Stephen has written a sequel about our little tug and its fearless crew. This time the entire 1,829 pages of my "Dream Shattered Sleep" will be waiting for our little friends to be crushed like a tiny bug as that massive fly swatter is lowered to allow trains to pass. Oh the humanity!!!
On a slightly more serious note. I WANT ONE! Ever since you started the thread I have been racking my tiny brain trying to figure out how to incorporate a Bascule Bridge into my Rocky Mountain layout. Maybe a moose crossing? I can just see Bullwinkle walking up and asking Mr. bridge attendant to raise the bridge allowing him to pass.
Great work Rich. Time for pancakes.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
MisterBeasley That is just so-o-o-o cool! I'd be tempted to leave one of the spans up and work around it just because it's such a neat scene.
That is just so-o-o-o cool! I'd be tempted to leave one of the spans up and work around it just because it's such a neat scene.
Yep, I understand that temptation. I actually could easily do that because when I had the single bascule bridge, I needed that rail connection to complete a reverse loop to change direction of trains. The down bridge completes that rail connection. The up bridge in that photo is the recently added bridge. The rail connection that it provides is really not necessary to the effective operation of my layout. It is more for show, so why not show it off as you suggested, Mister B.
It takes an iron man to play with a toy iron horse.
Awesome, thanks for posting these! Chris
MisterBeasley I'm impressed. Are the bridges still "sort of" operational? I'd like to see a picture with them raised. I think you've added something to my retirement layout bucket list.
I'm impressed. Are the bridges still "sort of" operational? I'd like to see a picture with them raised.
I think you've added something to my retirement layout bucket list.
Here are some photos with the bridges in raised position. In the photos with the one raised bridge, that's what it looks like today at 18th Street wifh fhe BOCT bridge fixed in a permanently raised position.
RDG1519 The model is large and when you get a chance could you post a picture with a locomotive on it?
The model is large and when you get a chance could you post a picture with a locomotive on it?
I shot some photos with trains on the bridges.
In the first photo, a Santa Fe train is leaving the bridge headed toward Dearborn Station.
In the second photo, a Wabash train is entering the bridge headed out from Dearborn Station.
In the third photo, that Wabash train is exiting the bridge as the Santa Fe is continuing to cross the bridge.
That is Artistic Excellence!!!
Really like the the lower level canal, with the Tuggie! That is a well thought out element, along with the aditional scenery, that makes it work to create a conducive scene!!!As said, Artistic Excellence!!!
doctorwayne Very nice looking layout you have there, Marc.
Very nice looking layout you have there, Marc.
I'll second that.
Very nice, indeed.
I only see one of these kit at a show train in Holland years ago. It looked very impressive whith good proportions and details. Building two side by side is very impressive and look extremely like the real thing.
I hope Walther really redo this kit and more hoping they consider to offer a Nscale version.
Custom Model Railroad offer also a version of this kind of bridge.
Many years ago I make a kitbash of two lift bridge in Nscale for my Maclau River RR.
I started whith two simple lift bridge from Pola (Model Power in US) and two truss bridge from Vollmer.
They look quite realistic, I constructed them to be operationnal but finaly some bad mechanical issues, because of a poor quality plastic design, make them always close.
I was inspired by a similar version which really exist here in Belgium in the port of Anvers.
On my Maclau river, they barely take the look of the lift bridge on the Elisabeth River on the old N&W line.
RDG1519 Richhotrain, Great modeling work. That they are operational is a further complement. Either MR or ATLAS forum had a thread on the construction of these that deals with making them operational and the difficulty in doing so with this kit. Are these visible from I-55 going from Midway Airport (50th St) to downtown? There are a lot of bridges there and these look very familiar. The model is large and when you get a chance could you post a picture with a locomotive on it? Thanks for sharing this. Chris
Richhotrain,
Great modeling work. That they are operational is a further complement. Either MR or ATLAS forum had a thread on the construction of these that deals with making them operational and the difficulty in doing so with this kit.
Are these visible from I-55 going from Midway Airport (50th St) to downtown? There are a lot of bridges there and these look very familiar.
Thanks for sharing this.
Chris
Thanks Chris,
Digital Griffin deserves the lion's share of the credit for the operating capability of the bridges. He provided me with a lot of help and advice on the wiring aspects of the circuitry needed to work the bridges.
I will take some photos over the weekend of some trains crossing the bridges.
zstripe Chris, You would have a better chance, of seeing the Bridges,if you got on 94 north bound,from I55 and look off to your right..... Cheers, Frank
Chris,
You would have a better chance, of seeing the Bridges,if you got on 94 north bound,from I55 and look off to your right.....
Cheers,
Frank is right. Travelling east bound on I-55 does not provide the best view of the bridges. One of the best views is on 18th Street between Canal Street and Clark Street.
Here is a photo that I took off Google Maps, looking north from the 18th Street vehicle bridge.