Sweeet!
Gary
Great results, Rich, and I'm looking forward to seeing the finished scene.
Wayne
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
Thanks, Gary and Mike. The bridge is completed, but I still need to landscape the surrounding area and create the river. Right now, I am working on other portions of the new layout, but I hope to get back to the bridge scene soon.
Here is a photo of the finished bridge with the cables, chains and counterweights attached to the superstructure.
Rich
Alton Junction
gdelmoroSomehow I missed this thread! Outstanding modeling Rich.
Gary, you faked me out with your post. When I seen it was active again,I thought Rich was posting pics on the completed scene.
Oh wait! The last picture, that must be the completed scene! Stunning work Rich!
Mike.
My You Tube
richhotrain I have reached the point where I need to install my scratch built bridge and towers on the layout so that I can finish the project by installing the counterweight chains and the sheave and pulley cables. My first thread on this scratch build project covered the bridge. http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/274913.aspx My second thread on this scratch build project covered the towers. http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/275386.aspx So, now, I have to modify the layout surface to accommodate the bridge and towers. Here is a photo of the bridge and towers sitting on the layout, but I cannot install it in place until I make provision for the towers which must sit below grade to match the tower decks to the height of the bridge track work. So, I have removed the track and the affected plywood surface. Now, I need to contemplate how I am going to retrofit the affected area to properly install the bridge and towers. The large open area will eventually become the river bed over which the bridge spans. Here is a photo of the actual bridge which spans the South Branch of the Chicago River just south of downtown Chicago at 21st Street and Canal Street.
I have reached the point where I need to install my scratch built bridge and towers on the layout so that I can finish the project by installing the counterweight chains and the sheave and pulley cables.
My first thread on this scratch build project covered the bridge.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/274913.aspx
My second thread on this scratch build project covered the towers.
http://cs.trains.com/mrr/f/88/t/275386.aspx
So, now, I have to modify the layout surface to accommodate the bridge and towers. Here is a photo of the bridge and towers sitting on the layout, but I cannot install it in place until I make provision for the towers which must sit below grade to match the tower decks to the height of the bridge track work.
So, I have removed the track and the affected plywood surface. Now, I need to contemplate how I am going to retrofit the affected area to properly install the bridge and towers. The large open area will eventually become the river bed over which the bridge spans.
Here is a photo of the actual bridge which spans the South Branch of the Chicago River just south of downtown Chicago at 21st Street and Canal Street.
Somehow I missed this thread! Outstanding modeling Rich.
Fantastic job Rich. Thank you for sharing. I lived in the Chicago area most of my life. I know that bridge well. You did it justice!
Well done our friend.
Ed
Semi newbie HO scale modeler coming from the O scale world
richhotrainHere is the explanation of the counterweight chains on the PRR vertical lift bridge
Very interesting!
Thanks Rich and Ed.
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
richhotrain The purpose of these chains may not be readily apparent, however it is actually an extremely interesting and creative use of simple physics to provide a consistent counterweight effect throughout the operation of the bridge.
Thank you for posting this explanation from Historic Bridges, Rich. I was kind of hoping you would
It really makes sense when you consider the added weight of all those cables (wire rope, actually) which transfers as the rope passes over the sheaves.
Very clever.
Cheers, Ed
gmpullmanWhile researching, along with you, I finally found the answer for the use of those heavy-linked chains attached to the bottoms of the counterweights. A very clever solution to acheiving "perfect" balance.
Observant visitors to this bridge and many other vertical lift bridges may note unusual, massive chains hanging from the bottom of the counterweights and connected to the lift towers. The purpose of these chains may not be readily apparent, however it is actually an extremely interesting and creative use of simple physics to provide a consistent counterweight effect throughout the operation of the bridge.
This bridge's lift span and counterweight is held by a system of cables, which run through a sheave or "cable drum" at the top of the towers. As the bridge raises, the cables run through the sheaves to pull the lift span up, while the counterweight receives the slack in the cable, which is pulled down by the counterweight which itself moves downward.
As the bridge is lowered, the reverse happens: the cable is returned from the counterweight side to the lift span side of the sheaves, which allows the lift span to lower and the counterweight raises. These cables actually have considerable weight to them, and when the bridge is lowered, most of the weight of the cables is added to the lift span side, while when the bridge is raised, most of the weight of the cables is added to the counterweight side.
This means that without something to address this changing weight distribution, the bridge is not constantly counterbalanced throughout its operation. The chain solves this problem. The chain is connected to the tower roughly halfway up the tower, and it is also connected to the counterweight.
When the bridge is lowered and the counterweight raises, transferring cable weight to the lift span, the counterweight also picks up some of the chain's length, and thus some of the weight from the chain is added to the counterweight system, making up for the lost cable weight.
When the bridge is raised and the counterweight lowers, receiving additional weight of the cable system, most of the length of chain is picked up and its weight held by the fixed towers, thereby removing that weight from the counterweight system.
Wow Rich, that is just AWESOME looking. Very well done. I can't believe you scratch built your own bridge. Your skills and new layout seem to be very good right now.
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
richhotrain...I will leave you with this thought. If I can do it, anyone can do it. A good part of the reason that I started this series of threads is to encourage others to try their hand at scratchbuilding. It can be done.
I'm in 100% agreement with you, Rich.
Scratchbuilding (kitbashing, too) are very rewarding pastimes, and one of the main requirements, in my opinion, is imagination. If you have it, you will learn the skills needed to do the things which you hope to accomplish.
It helps, too, that there are many here who can provide suggestions regarding tools, materials, and methods...there is more than one way to achieve most goals.
How big is your layout? Do you have a track plan?
doctorwayne Great results, Rich! The boys at Bertram's salute you! Wayne
Great results, Rich! The boys at Bertram's salute you!
Thanks everyone for your kind words. Much appreciated, and I cannot deny that it feels great to read such supportive remarks.
But, I will leave you with this thought. If I can do it, anyone can do it. A good part of the reason that I started this series of threads is to encourage others to try their hand at scratchbuilding. It can be done.
Hi Rich!!
You have definitely created a masterpiece! Well done.
richhotrainMy thanks to all who contributed to this series of threads.
You have a real museum piece there, Rich! Capturing the massiveness of this structure was a real challenge and you have succeeded marvelously.
While researching, along with you, I finally found the answer for the use of those heavy-linked chains attached to the bottoms of the counterweights. A very clever solution to acheiving "perfect" balance.
Outstanding results, indeed Rich!
Regards, Ed
Very nice work Rich, makes more anxious to get started on my new layout.
Again, great work.
Sheldon
Looks great Rich! Excellent work! I can't wait to see the finished scene.
WOW, now that is a bridge! Being from Chicago I've seen this in person, and your model really captures the image.
Truly a labor of love, and you are to be "attaboyed" for overcoming all the difficulties involved along the way.
Having seen what you did with the bascale bridges on your previous layout, I can't wait to see this one "scenicked in".
Great job!!!
ENJOY !
Mobilman44
Living in southeast Texas, formerly modeling the "postwar" Santa Fe and Illinois Central
richhotrain The bridge track has been ordered and will be delivered soon and then I can finalize the track leading into and over the bridge and install the counterweights and the balancing chains. After I test trains over the bridge and eliminate any possibility of derailments or uncouplings, I can install the cables on the pulleys and finish the project. Rich
The bridge track has been ordered and will be delivered soon and then I can finalize the track leading into and over the bridge and install the counterweights and the balancing chains. After I test trains over the bridge and eliminate any possibility of derailments or uncouplings, I can install the cables on the pulleys and finish the project.
Here is a photo of the final installation of the vertical life bridge, complete with cables and chains.
The following photo shows a closeup of one of the counterweights with steel cables and chains attached to the counterweight.
The steel cables were made out of thin brass rod which was easily bent over the sheaves. A big thank you to Frank (zstripe) who suggested this approach.
The following photos show the pulley system and cables. The cables are nylon cord that I picked up at Michaels along with costume jewelry chains that I used for the counterweights.
My final challenge was to complete the tower decks that hold the sheaves. I needed to add protective covers over the sheaves and add hand hand rails for safety purposes. A big thank you to Ed (gpullman) for his research on this issue.
So, that completes the construction and installation of the scratchbuilt vertical lift bridge. My thanks to all who contributed to this series of threads.
It seems to me like this next phase of the project took longer than it should have, but I really struggled with it.
With the bascule bridges and truss bridges on my layout, installation was pretty straight forward. The bridge decks had to sit lower than the layout surface so that the bridge track aligned vertically with the track on the layout. So, I simply had to add piers at either end of the bridge approximately 3/4" lower than the surface of the layout.
But, with the vertical lift bridge, the towers presented a problem. The tower decks needed to align horizontally with the bridge deck which meant that the tower decks would be placed below the surface of the layout. So, to make the tower decks visible, the layout area around the towers needed to be opened up and lowered or sloped to make the tower decks visible.
Anyway, I finally got it all worked out. Once the area is landscaped and all of that bare wood is covered and the river water added, it will look much better. But, I am getting closer to what the final scene would look like.
Doughless Looks good Rich.
Looks good Rich.
- Douglas
JaBear While, for posterities sake, I would query the need for three threads
While, for posterities sake, I would query the need for three threads
When I finished the bridge, I decided to close off that first thread. I hadn't intended or expected the thread to be one about a project build. My initial question was about extending the length of the bridge span by adding an additional center section or two.
Once the bridge was done, I just thought that starting a second thread to document the building of the towers might be the way to go. I blame all of the Spring rains here in the Midwest for that third thread. I did not plan to finish the project until Fall, but all of that rain got in the way of golf, so I needed something to do. That said, I promise not to start a fourth thread.
hon30critter richhotrain I won't claim it to be a masterpiece, but I am pleased with it, Well then, allow us to do it for you! Your workmanship is excellent and the bridge is impressive. I'd say it qualifies as a masterpiece. Dave
richhotrain I won't claim it to be a masterpiece, but I am pleased with it,
Well then, allow us to do it for you! Your workmanship is excellent and the bridge is impressive. I'd say it qualifies as a masterpiece.
richhotrainI do find these kinds of threads to be informative and inspiring, so if that has occurred here, then I couldn't be more pleased.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."