Bridges on Corners

[MVandNRR]

I am sure this is a subject many have visited before, but I am new to this so I just thought I would ask. I am trying to put a bridge in the middle of a corner, but every bridge I find has track prelaid on it and are straight. The layout I am building was built before I bought it and the designer just turned the bridge over and ran the flex track over it. Is there a better way? I would like to use a girder or truss type bridge

[Anonymous]

There are kits available for curved bridges, but I think they're all of the "box-of-lumber" craftsman type.

[scubaterry]

I had a similar question a while back. I got several good ideas the best being using a double track bridge and use it as a single track. You would have enough room (depending on curve rad) to curve your flextrack .
Terry[8D]

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by scubaterry

I had a similar question a while back. I got several good ideas the best being using a double track bridge and use it as a single track. You would have enough room (depending on curve rad) to curve your flextrack .
Terry[8D]

Good point - I've seen several examples of multiple straight lengths of bridge angled to accommodate a curved track. The track doesn't have to stay in the exact centerline of the bridges, just fudged enough to clear the sides.

[scubaterry]

Wow someone else up at four in the morning! I haven't seen many curved trestles/bridges other than the very complex kits which I don't do well with.
Terry[8D]

[james saunders]

you could probably heat a plastic one and bend it to the desired shape, i'm sure i've seen that done...

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by scubaterry

Wow someone else up at four in the morning! I haven't seen many curved trestles/bridges other than the very complex kits which I don't do well with.
Terry[8D]

My shift at work is 11:00p - 7:00a. Good news is that there's plenty of time for surfing and forums. Bad news is I generally am 12hrs behind on hot topics, or have to wait a day for feedback on a post.

[Eriediamond]

Depending on the bridge manufacturer, you could remove the sides and scratch build or modify the center track support section (widen it) then reattach the sides. Just make sure you go wide enough for over-hang the rolling stock will have on the curve. I have done this before with good results. Ken
A little pun here, rail roads and women have curves- streets and side walks have corners. [(-D][(-D][(-D][:o)]

[ARTHILL]

Technically there are no curved bridges, just a series of straight bridges connected at a slight angle. That is even the case with a wooden trestle.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

The way I tackled the problem of a bridge on a curve was to just pitch the track deck that came with the kit. I scratch-built my own curved track deck from craft sticks which you can get at Wal-mart. These look like popsicle sticks. Once it was built, I secured it in place with hot glue. I then heated the bridge sides (it's a plate girder bridge) and bent it at the joints where each plate comes together, so it looks like a series of straight plates welded in a curve. I then hot glued these to the bridge deck, leaving enough clearance for my biggest locomotives and rolling stock to clear. I even went so far as to install guard rails on the track for that extra bit of effect.

[newusername]

A very inexpensive way to make a good looking curved bridge is to purchase Atlas Item 150-82 (Pier Girders - 4) and Item 150-790 (Flat car girder load - 4). List prices are $2.95 and $3.65, but can be found cheaper at the mail order discount stores. Use Item 82 for the bridge deck and Item 790 for the bridge sides. Cut as necessary with a razor saw and glue pieces together and then paint silver using a can of aluminum spray paint for a great looking bridge. For bridge supports I used balsa wood which I also painted silver. Looks great on my 4x8 "HO Railroad That Grows" layout. If you would like a photo, send me an eMail.

[Fergmiester]

QUOTE: Originally posted by scubaterry

Wow someone else up at four in the morning! I haven't seen many curved trestles/bridges other than the very complex kits which I don't do well with.
Terry[8D]

I built this from scratch after buying the Kalmbach book on bridges. Believe it or not I photo copied the diagram fro the trestle, glued it on a board, built the jig and in 20 hours had a trestle. And it was very esay to do to boot!





Fergie

[Anonymous]

Tryn this thread...

http://www.trains.com/community/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=65335

[MVandNRR]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jeffrey-wimberly

The way I tackled the problem of a bridge on a curve was to just pitch the track deck that came with the kit. I scratch-built my own curved track deck from craft sticks which you can get at Wal-mart. These look like popsicle sticks. Once it was built, I secured it in place with hot glue. I then heated the bridge sides (it's a plate girder bridge) and bent it at the joints where each plate comes together, so it looks like a series of straight plates welded in a curve. I then hot glued these to the bridge deck, leaving enough clearance for my biggest locomotives and rolling stock to clear. I even went so far as to install guard rails on the track for that extra bit of effect.

I will have to try that one. I wanted to stay away from old wooden style trestles as I am modeling a short line in about the early 80's. I will have to build a couple of small wooden trestles, but I wanted to use steel if possible

[tomikawaTT]

If you're modeling the '80's, a ballasted-deck bridge would be prototypical. Mu choices of types would be deck girder or truss (girders and trusses straight, but the deck edge can curve.) If you don't have enough under-the-deck clearance, attach your through girders (or trusses) to the edges of your sub-roadbed, spread out wide enough to clear your most extreme rolling stock inside and outside the curve.

This has the advantage that you can continue the sub-roadbed across the abyss, perfect for rock-solid construction.

Chuck

[markpierce]

Masonry, stone, and concrete arch bridges can be curved rather than a series of straight sections.

[mikesmowers]

This is what I came up with a few weeks ago, If you would like I will let you know how it was done. (Very simple, took about 1 hour)
Mike

[Dave Vollmer]

Sorry you can't see the sides of the bridge in this photo, but what I did was cut the girder sides of a Model Power girder bridge, shorten them by two panels, and then add a wider deck. The bridge is the mounted on Chooch abudments.

[jeffrey-wimberly]

This is a photo of a curved bridge that I made for my layout. You can't see it from this angle, but it has a scratch built wood deck made from craft sticks.



I bent the sides by heating them, then bent them at the joints of the plates so it looks like a series of plates welded together in a curve.

[ngartshore350]

I have a KIBRI kit that is a curved bridge, it was a larger radius than I wanted so I cut sections out of the inside and made it sharper.

Regards,

NG