Railroad bridges for the wall.

[Anonymous]

I'm helping a friend build a shelf in his room to run a train around. The shelf is 6" wide and features a crown molding benneth it. The problem is that he has a entry way that is 5' across. I'm able to cover this span with the shelf and it is well supported, but looks very plain. I have 18" to the ceiling and was wondering if anyone had plans or ideas they are willing to share on how I can dress up the shelf to make it look like a bridge (tresle bridge). The bridge will be a focal point when entering from the front door.

Kmaguire

[Anonymous]

Why don't you scratch-build it to look like a trestle. That would look neat and would be a pretty kool project to work on.

[Anonymous]

Daniel, I agree with kenneth on this one. A tresstle bridge would look cool here. For exemples of a tresstle bridge I would probably start at my local public library looking under both bridges and model railroad. They are sure to have something in one of those catagories that you can use. If you're lucky, they might even have a copy of Model Railroader's Bridges and tresstles book which brakes every thing down in detail for you about many different types of bridges. Good luck and happy building.....Jamie

[Anonymous]

Daniel,

I need some information so I may assist you further. What scale are you doing this in? Will you have to duck under this often? Will the door be able to serve as a backdrop surface?

I am planning a similar project for my model world. I am using HO scale. I plan to take a picture of a river near my home from one bank, take it to work and run a copy off at a poster size and paste it to the door. Then I will get a piece of 1 x 4 lumber and set it up as a clear span across the doorway opening. (you will have to check the clearance and the swing of the door) Then I plan to paint the board a concrete color and place track on it as if it were a balasted track bridge. Then I plan to glue girders from Micro Engineering to the bottom so it appears to be a deck girder trestle. Finally, I will also attach about three of the Micro Engineering trestle towers to the underside as well.

This last bit would not be so good if you expect to duck under the trestle often because the trestle towers will hang down about a foot from the board and are very delicate. If anyone snags a shirt on them they will break for sure.

Aside from that, I believe it will give a wonderful effect of a trestle bridge running along a river bank as exists in my city near the downtown area. The backdrop will do a fine job of taking your attention away from the door and the trestle towers will give a fine 3-D perspective effect. Good Luck - Ed

[Anonymous]

use a lifting bridge. these are commonly found on the prototype at low river crossings