Is there a vendor that produces inexpensive HO scale H column elevated piers high and wide enough for trains to run under the H column?
I have been experimenting with Micro Engineering products, I’m using their single track units, but I am supplementing them with 3/8 dowels to imitate concrete foundation posts, to clear DoubleStack cars. In stock form they are pretty close to fine for regular loco’s & subway units. The ones I am using are: Walthers Part # 255-75511, p. 536 Walthers 2011 HO Scale Reference
I also built a simple jig of basswood stock on plywood planks to make assembly square & consistent.
I would recommend them… As they are fairly inexpensive, & very adaptable.
I have also heard of folks using old computer Keyboard keys as mounting bases/risers.
Here is a picture of a mochup I built, you can (hopefully) estimate the size in this picture…
Just my thoughts…
EDIT: I should say that most loco’s will clear, if the track is not mounted on any riser, like cork or other roadbed. anything a person does to elevate the track, will need to be equated into the structure. My plan is to use a laminated set (pair) of 1x4 MDF planks, the top one being drilled with the 3/8" stand offs, (& a crossing bell spearker hole), & then the track will be affixed directly to the MDF Base. It will then be placed on a wall cornice display until a layout is built to receive it. It will be a true 6 feet in length… In addition, not each span receives the lattice grid shown pictured here, they are (the Micro Engineering kits) designed to span every other section. So over my main street, I will supplement with some Plastruct truss, slightly slallower & a different style than the M.E. form for visual interest & personal style.
Thanks for sharing that.
Sorry , I added a little more & corrected a few grammatical mistakes, please take another look at it, It may be easier to understand now. THe more I thought about it the better I could explain it. Sorry… Just trying to share, a little too fast…
Six stacks? That is a little tall! [:)]
Br. Elias,
Oopsie, did I misspell something, or make an other misleading error? I thought I remedied that.
Although I have not constructed the entire unit, I am planning to use one solid 1"x4" MDF plank (unmodified) then glue & laminate another 1"x4" MDF plank over it, but that ‘top’ one will have a carved/routered out hole for a crossing speaker, & many 3/8 through holes at the support locations to put pre-cut dowel stubs into, to make the ‘concrete-like’ mounting pillars to support the elevated structure legs. I want to ultimately clear a AAR ‘Plate H’ (20’ 2" height) clearance. I choose to laminate two 1"x4" planks, because it will give me more consistent bottom beaching depth for the 3/8" cut dowel pylons (more accurate than I can drill on my mill without a mistake ( in a raw 2"x4") or further finishing/leveling effort). It also allows me to make a speaker hole, & a wire guide very easily, as when it is glued up, it will be a precision milled 2"x4" in which is what I was intending for a good solid base. And, yes the elevation may be a little taller than normal, but with my future plans, it will allow any unit train to pass without any ‘operator’ concern or consideration.
I hope that expains it better, if not please ask me more questions, & tell me your thoughts. Thanks!
The LION has elevated structures, but of course could not afford Micro Engineering. I had to build something from scratch. My building skills are not first class, as a matter of fact, I think they are unclassified. I might have stick built my structure, but LIONS are known for their impatience.
So this is what I built.
Hey! It works!
Ni, not at all. The LION was making fun of your six-high stack train in the background. [:D]
Oh, my intermodal background, hah ha, I actually photocopied some of those to ‘help’ fill them out, I never put the copies up, just stuck the photo subjects closer to them…
Hey, I admire your setup, cuz you have working/running trains, so far, I have a test track. I wont’ shame anyone, cuz I know what it is like not to have resources. My last building foundation has almost 30-something corndog squerers… Your additional details carry that further than you think, the pix look pretty impressive. Keep up the good work! I’ll try to as well…
Six Stack, Huh hah huh ha, I thought I had a big Revolver or a really fast Mopar!!! Later!
I use Evergreen H-columns in my subways:
These are HO scale. Evergreen makes a whole series of these. I think these are the second one down in size. They come in pieces 14 inches long, and are easy to cut to size.
They are not terribly strong. These here are of no structural value at all. Since model railroads are all about illusion, though, it’s not hard to make a rigid structure using a piece of real steel or aluminum, support it solidly every 8-12 inches, and then fill in underneath it with H-girders for looks. This picture from above of another station shows the flimsy girder structure. The actual weight of the roof of the station and the buildings above it is carried on the 1x2 posts, which are covered with the “tile” Hydrocal castings.
A completely different approach might be to pick up interlocking toy girders from Bridge Street Toys. These are the descendents of the old Kenner building sets. They feature H-girders formed as vertical posts and horizontal beams, and the parts link together quite firmly, even when unglued. For a permanent structure, gluing together the components should give a fairly rigid structure.
As I recall, stacking two posts on top of each other should give you enough height to run trains beneath. One post would be fine for normal cars and trucks to run below on a street.