Does anyone have the measurement of the total distance from outside leg(s) to outside leg width of a SINGLE track Micro Engineering City viaduct? I called M.E. (do they not have a web site address?) but no response yet… I’m hoping to install 6’ overall run (four 150’ single track kits) very close to the back of my benchwork along the back wall. If anyone has this kit installed on their layout or at least a tower assembly finished, I would very much appreciate the width in inches. I’m guessing approx. 3 1/2" but that’s from relative measurements from photographs and vehicles/figures in those pics. Thanks very much!
It’s 3.25".
CNJ831
CNJ831, Thanks very much! I’ll go see if I need to change my track plan at all. I REALLY appreciate it. By the way, I was loaned a Bailey’s Savings and Loan already built as a station, from a local club. It may be for sale and if so, I’ll make good use of it. I’ve also chosen the Walther’s Milwaukee Station as my main Union Station and may have found a way to place it whole, far back in a corner…to be continued much later. Thanks again for the pics and advice regarding the Bailey’s/Station. Once I find a way to fit these city viaducts, I’ve got to find a way to angle about a 10-12 foot length of them into a 1%+ a tich, grade. Have you by chance put yours on any grade at all? I’m thinking I’ll try shimming them under the bridge shoes at the top of the towers. Thanks again for the dimension(s).
Hmmm…now I’m confused (again 
I just got off the phone with M.E. and the woman who had a single track city viaduct tower on her desk, measured and gave me the single tower width of only 2 1/4". She did say that they had a similar kit that measured about 3.5 (a plate bridge kit)… I can fit a 2 +1/4" width in easily. 3.5 would require some “interesting” track plan rearranging which may or may not be possible. .I asked twice if this was the OUTside of the legs dimension (2.25") and she said, yes. She builds the demo bridges for the magazine ads but was just grabbing a ruler out of her desk to measure… CNJ, any idea what’s goin’ on? If the legs stand only about 1/4" outside the single bridge track ties, 2.25" seems about right. Is there more width involved than that to bring it to 3.25"? I know you’re a master modeler so I’m not doubting you, but wondered if there’s a logical reason for the discrepancy on M.E.'s part? Thanks if you can shed any more light on this or if anyone else can. I’d like to get going on the urban area. Jessica at M.E. was very nice and helpful (once I could get ahold of them). I DID forget to ask about their apparent lack of an online address though.
Ah, perhaps my viaduct girderwork was actual the double track type. I purchased it ages ago and built it as a single track structure. The boxes it came in have been gone for years so I have no way of checking.
Re my section of M.E. City Viaduct in Jacksboro, it is set dead flat. However, I would think that at a grade of only 1% the very minor inclination of the griderwork if you simply mounted the entire viaduct unaltered on a 1% inclined surface beneath, would not be noticeable and decidedly easier than any alternate approach.
CNJ831.
Ah, the double track kit thing makes sense. Thanks for getting back to me about this. I’ll go ahead and order the kits. I’ll experiment with the 1% grade and see if shimming will be required or if the ramp will work. I’m tempted to keep the legs all the same length to avoid stresses over such a length of run, but I’ll give it a try. Sure would be simpler.Thanks again CNJ.
Indeed, leaving the legs unaltered in length and simply placing the fully assembled 10’-12’ of viaduct on a very slightly inclined plane would be the best approach. Attempting to individually shim each set of support legs would likely result in certain unavoidable degree of undulation to the finished girderwork and a very unnatural appearance (to say nothing of how the trains would respond to the slight deviations!).
CNJ831
Hi CNJ831, This method definitely is appealing to me! Would you simply shim a corner or half of each pillar/leg to achieve the incline or do you think it wouldn’t even be necessary to do that? I’ll leave you alone after this question for awhile! I really appreciate your advice. Your work is an inspiration to me and it’s nice to communicate with a guy “from back home”. Hope you’re having a good Holiday Weekend! By the way, Justin very kindly emailed me a diagram of the dimensions at the single track version is indeed only 2.25" so I’m “golden” with the viaducts against that back wall! Now I’ll be able to fully connect the main line around the room.
My recommendation for the incline on which to place the fully assembled viaduct would be a well supported ~3" wide strip of at least 1/2" thickness plywood. It’s far less likely to warp or change shape with time and much better for the purpose than any regular 10-12 foot 1x3 board. Still, I would screw tapered support shims under the plywood perhaps every foot, or so. No need to shim any of the viaduct legs in any manner.
Taper the area within 6" of the upper transition point ever so slightly so that the change of grade when the track leaves the viaduct is almost nil. Shim the approach to the viaduct the opposite so that the lead-in is equally gentle. Even so, avoid any rail joints within 8" of these transition points. I’d suggest spanning the two locations with pieces of 3’ M.E. bridge flex track.
Good luck with your effort and be sure to post pix of your completed project.
CNJ831
Thanks for the specifics. That really helps. I was having trouble envisioning how deal with the viaduct’s ends. I’ll be sure to get some pics to you once they’re done. I don’t have enough of the layout built and “interesting” enough yet to post pics but once this part is done and the mainline is whole (end of summer, hopefully) I’ll send you some or post them.