Hi guys
I know it's a little out of scale but I am thinking of using part of an old Airfix bailey bridge as a Hon30 narrow gauge railroad bridge.
I have heard of this being done using army surplus equipment for perminant real world bridges not often but it does happen.
For a realistic apearance do I need to double up the side girders stacking them on top of each other, or one up one down with the deck in between.
I figure these where not really designed for trains as such, but by doubling up or other engineering process could create a strong enough structure to hold a train.
What are your thoughts as I want something a little different to the usual timber trestle or standard type girder bridge but whatever I do it needs to look realistic and believable.
regards John
John,
Keep in mind era, if that's important. The Bailey bridge was a WWII innovation.
wikipedia says you can triple up the girders AND stack them for max capacity. Supposed to be strong enough like that to carry a tank over a 200' span, so should be viable for light narrowgauge.
Link to manual: http://www.enlistment.us/field-manuals/fm-5-277-bailey-bridge.shtml
Mike Lehman
Urbana, IL
mlehman John, Keep in mind era, if that's important. The Bailey bridge was a WWII innovation. wikipedia says you can triple up the girders AND stack them for max capacity. Supposed to be strong enough like that to carry a tank over a 200' span, so should be viable for light narrowgauge. Link to manual: http://www.enlistment.us/field-manuals/fm-5-277-bailey-bridge.shtml
Thanks for the link. I am interested in the Field Manuals. but didn'know about that site. Back in 1980 I was assigned to work at the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. I met Mr Bailley who was touring Caltrans facilities.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
Hi all
Thanks for the information.
On a layout currently nick named reality suspended period doesn't mean much.
Even though each area will need to look realistic in its own right.
Hi John,
Bear in mind the Airfix pontoon bridge only bears a passing resemblance to a Bailey Bridge (the Airfix kit is a cheap possible source of bits for kit bashing though). If you are looking for a something that actually looks like a Bailey Bridge then you need to look at AB Miniatures - see pictures of the models here http://henk.fox3000.com/abfig.htm
AB are sold in Australia by Eureka Miniatures but I can't see the Bailey Bridge there - the owner is a really nice guy and will certainly give you a steer on where to get the Bailey Bridge if he doesn't have one: http://abfigures.com/3-world-war-ii-20mm
Malc
Hi MalcyMalc
Thanks for the heads up on a better bridge..
Have dealt with Eureka miniatures before I pretty sure thats where I got suitable figures for Sharp and sgt Harper from when I was playing war games.
So yes very nice and helpful place to deal with.