I need a bridge at least 18" long. I want to build in 1950 somewhere between Utah, Colorado, and Wyoming. Which are the most appropriate bridges for these location? I need to pass one single track over double track.If you can point me to a product i’ll appreciated.
As a very basic bridge which will span 18 inches, Atlas offers their Through-Truss Bridge:
(I’m assuming HO here, which this bridge is.) These are simple bridges consisting of only a few parts to slide together. They’re plastic, and you can slide whatever track you prefer into them. You can paint and weather them to your heart’s content, and they list for $23.95.
[#ditto] to Mr. B.'s suggestion. That Atlas bridge can be made to look as good as many more expensive models and it’s within the skill range of almost any modeler. I just wish I had a place to use it on my layout.
If you want to be dramatic, try Faller’s Bietschtahl bridge. Walthers sells is in the states. Here is my versions. Twhite also has a nice version.
Art, is that a unit coal train on the left in your 2nd photo?
Sheesh! You’re breaking the biggest law of MRRing![:D]
Railroad–
Actually, American railroad bridges are fairly standard, no matter what the location. It pretty much depends on the difference between the two levels as to which bridge would work the best for you. Anything from a Truss bridge through a simple girder and even up to a steel viaduct will work, but what matters most is the clearance between your upper and lower level tracks. If you’re looking for a real ‘dramatic’ impact, and say, your clearance is about 12" or over, I’d suggest a girder or a Truss. Atlas makes a really handsome Truss (as in the above photo) and Walther’s makes one for either single or double track that is a little more ‘sturdy’ looking. I use a Walther’s double-track truss for a cross-over on my Yuba River Sub, but I use it for a single-track 34" curve over the lower trackage (which is prototypical–). If you’ve got a copy of the latest issue of TRAINS, you can find a photo of a deck-truss bridge used on the old SP line between Tucson and Benson, AZ on the current UP “Sunset” route, where two tracks cross each other, the lower on the side of a canyon–pretty spectacular.
But it pretty much depends on what you want for clearance, and also what you want for what we call “dramatic effect”.
Here’s a couple of photos of my modified Walther’s Truss at Wagon Wheel Gap, if it helps at all.
Tom
I don’t know. What is the height of the track above the terrain? Do you need a single span or will multiple spans work? Is it to simulate a light-duty or heavy-duty bridge? What is the (imaginative) year the bridge was built? Was it a wealthy railroad or a poor railroad when the bridge was built? Are you modeling a real railroad (which one) or is it imaginary?
Mark
Art, that’s the first time I’ve seen a photo of that bridge close up. You are a very patient and talented modeler.
the Life Like Arch span bridge is an easy to assemble unit that looks great, it’s modular this pic is two together, to make a 30" bridge. cost about $14 per from walthers.
track running under on far bank
over the top
[quote user=“twhite”]
Railroad–
Actually, American railroad bridges are fairly standard, no matter what the location. It pretty much depends on the difference between the two levels as to which bridge would work the best for you. Anything from a Truss bridge through a simple girder and even up to a steel viaduct will work, but what matters most is the clearance between your upper and lower level tracks. If you’re looking for a real ‘dramatic’ impact, and say, your clearance is about 12" or over, I’d suggest a girder or a Truss. Atlas makes a really handsome Truss (as in the above photo) and Walther’s makes one for either single or double track that is a little more ‘sturdy’ looking. I use a Walther’s double-track truss for a cross-over on my Yuba River Sub, but I use it for a single-track 34" curve over the lower trackage (which is prototypical–). If you’ve got a copy of the latest issue of TRAINS, you can find a photo of a deck-truss bridge used on the old SP line between Tucson and Benson, AZ on the current UP “Sunset” route, where two tracks cross each other, the lower on the side of a canyon–pretty spectacular.
But it pretty much depends on what you want for clearance, and also what you want for what we call “dramatic effect”.
Here’s a couple of photos of my modified Walther’s Truss at Wagon Wheel Gap, if it helps at all.
Tom
When was your railroad built in theory? The older it is the more likely it would have been a wooden trestle and the newer it is the more likely it would be one of the types shown.
Scratchbuilt so that I could fit it right into place.
A Micro Engineering combination deck and through girder, 160’ long (22.5" roughly). It is on metal posts that support the bottom of the girders at 3.5" off the water. The kit can be bashed to shorten it if you wish. Also they sell other combinations.
