I’m about to try installing a bridge for the first time on my layout and I’m not sure how to proceed. The bridge will be on the center table…
and it will have a double track crossing it, the mainline and a passing siding. It will be where you see the tracks crossing each other. I almost have the incline built to the point the bridge would start (the incline levels out for the bridge ) and I’m wondering exactly how to proceed since I’ve never done one. Where should I start, what are some of the pitfalls to watch out for? I haven’t purchased the bridge yet Do I set the bridge in place first, then cut the foam incline as close as I can to fit?
Thanks for any advice.
Jarrell
You have to waiver between both acts, JaRRell. You have to have the bridge built and its dimensions and characteristics handy so that, as you make the ramp and transitions, you keep placing the bridge where you’d like it, and note how things are coming together.
At some point, you will be faced with a new act, such as cropping the supports/legs/pylons for the bridge, building foam or plaster abuttments, digging down into the foam footing area to allow the legs(if you are loath to trim them) to keep the bridge at the right height …AND… level, etc.
So, back and forth between what bridge says and what your plan and ramps say…if you catch my drift. This, in my experience, gets you to happy trains.
Improvisation is big in this hobby. Plaster, sculptamold, and hydrocal are your friends around pylon footings, abuttments, embankments, etc. Remember that only you (and experienced modellers) will ever really know all the gouging, cutting, and sanding you do behind the nice “rocks and outcroppings”. To the newcomer, they’re strictly…“Wow!”
Okie dokie then! I’ve gotta find me a double track bridge somewhere. Improvisation and happy trains, I can do that… [:D]
Thanks Crandell. Now… where did I put that Walthers catalog …?
JaRRell
I agree with Selector, you’ll have to postion the bridge in and chances are that you will have to do some “tweeking” to get things just right. I just finished installing a total of 12 bridges on my layout and it took quite a bit of time making sure everything was level, transitions to the bridges were smooth and the the piers cleared track running underneath it. Depending on what bridges you use, I recommend you can tack your bridge down temporarily and slide some rail joiners in and run a few trains through it to test your transitions. Luckily I did this and found that I had some customizing I had to do on the supports. When everythings finally working well, go ahead and tack down your bridge (with adhesive or whatever). I would also suggest weathering your bridge before the final installation. I ended up using various colored chalks to resemble rust (brown and red chalks), and greens for moss (over the river)…etc. I actually grinded the chalk in on the plastic bridges and set the chalk in place with cheap hair spray (i.e. Aqua Net) which dries flat and dull. Good Luck!
Looking at your last post, my layout runs a double track through six of my bridges…I ended up splicing together pairs of Warren Trusses, it works great!!
One thing I do is to use a section of track which extends 6-12" over each end of the bridge. Then I center it and glue it to the bridge. Then I complete the tiers, line up the bridge and glue it in place. Finally I spike the rails to the road bed. Then connect the remaining track to it. The final step if you intend to open the bridge is to make a cut with a Dremel in the rails at the opening point of the bridge. This will insure you have no alignment problems in the future. One last thing make sure your largest locomotive or car will pass through the bridge before you install it.
Good luck,
Doc
Thank you all for the suggestions. I’m sure I won’t be so hesitant after I install this first one.
Thanks,
JaRRell