Speaking of bridges…where could I find plans for a Pennsylvania type thru truss bridge?
Would like to build an HO scale model of 1…about 300’ long double track.
No place to put it on my layout…but thought it would be a neat project to keep me busy for a little while.
As the man said elsewhere, “Google is your friend.” [swg]
I quick search yielded THIS. Scroll down the page if you want to see an actual Pennsylvania-style (Petit) truss, and there are lots of illustrations of other types of truss bridges which would be suitable for a bridge as used by the Pennsy.
For plans, try typing the name of the style which you like in the google search box, like this: Pratt truss bridge plans.
Wayne
Here is one I snapped together using the out-of-the-bubble-pack Atlas bridges for a layout I threw together in ten days.
No, not perfectly accurate, but it impressed people who had never seen any layout except one on a flat ping pong table.
[tup]
But i think you did a great job.
You mean like this one? pardon the poor photography 2:00am with a camera phone. No where near finished yet but I think you get the idea.
If I may weigh in on this multiple bridge kit thing, I really appreciate the work that you guys have posted, most impressive and enjoyable. Thanks.
My N Scale Maritime Trunk has two multiple kit bridges. The smaller is just twin Walthers Cornerstone double track kits across a river. 
That’s on a removable module in a window.
The larger is a viaduct made from six or seven Atlas 3 arch viaduct kits on a removable module across a doorway. Scales out at about 640 feet long. 
As you can see, the height far exceeds the length of the Atlas piers, and I cast plaster pier extensions to accommodate the difference. 
. I had to shorten the Atlas piers for the ends of the viaduct where the terrain rises. 
Since this module gets moved in and out of the doorway on a fairly frequent basis, I’ve give up on rail joiners, and rely on friction provided by pieces of (suitably coloured) card folded up as wedges filling the gap at each end of the viaduct to hold the rails in alignment by holding the whole structure in alignment. Sorry about tha trun-on sentence! The piers are stuck to the scenery base by silicone to provide some vibration dampening when the module moves. It’s on sliders with adjusting screws to get the verticle alignment right at each corner.
John.
Sorry for posting this thread and not getting back to it sooner, life got in the way. I would like to thank everyone for posting all their beautiful multikit bridges!![:)] To let you know where Im at with this project, I’ve built the base and backdrop. I used 1"x8" solid wood for the base and Masonite for the backdrop. My layout is a shelf layout that circles the second floor of my home. After building and placing the bridges, Im using shelf brackets to mount it into place on the wall. It fits into a space between a doorway and a wall that will be penetrated. The base is kinda shaped like this. -------l__________l------ The bridge kits are the 18" code 86 Atlas bridge kits. To be honest, I looked over the Walthers bridge kits and decided I liked the simplicity of the Atlas kits. I have a couple other hobbies and I like the time savings. The bridges really do look pretty good. Im painting the bridge with MM steel with a light wash of rust. I will do a mock up tonight, but I already know that the Chooch abutments and pier will need to be altered, shimmed or both. Again, thanks for the pictures.
SFatw: Enquiring minds need to know…you did say a shelf layout around the second floor as in the entire upper storey of your home? Wow! I thought I was doing well to get an entire spare bedroom for my shelf! [bow] John.
Im divorced, so there’s no one to say “your crazy, your not doing that!!” To be accurate, the layout circles two of the three rooms upstairs, the hobby room and my bedroom. It goes thru my closet, thru the wall seperating my bedroom and the hobby room, around the hobby room, across my daughters bedroom door( making a swing down “bridge” for this) across the bridge that is the topic of this thread, thru the wall seperating the hobby room and my bedroom, and around my bedroom and into the closet. Being HO, I still have room for my clothes.[:)] So far, I have the benchwork up for most of the hobbyroom and a little inside my closet.(enough to back a 10 car train into) If I ever remember how to post pictures, I’ll show you what I have so far.
PS John, I once lived in a small two bedroom apartment. I used half my daughters bedroom for a 4x7ft layout!! Bad daddy you think? I made it up to her by making a cool playhouse for her under the layout. It even had strings of Christmas lights for lighting.
John, the bridge in the first picture you posted is exactly the look Im going for. Woodland scenics makes some fisherman and a boat Im going to use, I think it really adds something.
I finally figured out how to post pictures…I think. Lets see if my bridge picture uploads. This is a mulit kit, multi span bridge. Its just test fitted together at this point. The base is 1x8 and the backdrop is 1/8"masonite.
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
Looks good. What kit is that?
I have a triple Atlas curved chord bridge on my layout (that is not finished yet). The photo will give you an idea of what you can do with not too much work. I made the piers/abutments from some 1x4 and will cover them with a stone pattern styrene or possible just a concrete finish, haven’t decided yet. I am using ME bridge track in code 83. It looks very impressive when the train goes across as it is about 54" long. I set it up on a temporary board and worked out the support profiles first.
Good luck, don’ t be afraid to try something, you never know?
Bob
.
That’s going to be a nice-looking scene,Bob. [tup]
This is good advice for everyone: too often, projects are over-analysed until they appear to be nothing but problems, with the result that nothing is accomplished or learned. Sometimes you actually do need to “just do it”.
Wayne (learning as I go)
I agree. Case in point was how to build the abutments for my N scale module. Well I decided to cut out of Balsa and they came out OK, but I might do something different next time. All in all they came out OK.
This was assembled using 2 Atlas(new style) double track girder bridges and four of the ballasted deck bridges from Micro Engineering. I also added Plastruct hadrails and home made guard rails from styrene.
The inspiration.
There sure are some great models on here, Waynes especially.
Looks pretty nice for “OK”. [;)]
Thanks, too, for the kind words - my bridges were also a case of just “do it” and I would also make some changes if I were to re-do them.
Wayne
Wayne.
Outstanding job on those bridges! I also like how you tinted your water. Really looks the part…
Thanks for the kind words, Bob. The water, however, is painted plaster. [:)]
Wayne
My bridge is made from Atlas kits with code 83 track and Chooch abutments/ piers. I repainted the upper part of the bridge stainless steel with some black and rust washes over that. The deck was painted flat black with some more rust wash. Im going to use a photo background, matching the rest of my layout. The chooch abutments where fairly expensive, from what Ive seen here, I should have made my own.