I need to know the construction method of a plate girder bridge. Maybe someone can show a picture how a generic plate girder bridge is constructed. Here is a picture, are they always constructed like this?
The reason I ask is because I’m trying to figure out how the D&RGW hanging bridge is constructed, but only the plate girder part of it. I have lots of pictures of it, but no one from the side.
I don’t know if this will help, but in one of the last two or three issues of MR, there was a story about kitbashing/improving plate girder bridges. Maybe someone else knows which issue it was.
Chris
I believe the July Issiue 2006 of MR talks about building that very same style of Bridge in Step by Step.
James
electro:
Get this bridge kit from Central Valley and build it:
The kit is available for $15 from here. Better yet, get two kits, build the first one according to the instructions to learn how the thing goes together (you can always use it somewhere on the layout) then kitbash one of them into the bridge you want.
For $30, you will get one heck of an education on how these bridges go together – way more than you will get from hundreds of hours browsing the web and asking questions on forums. [swg]
I’ve done this a lot myself. There’s nothing like spending a few bucks on a kit and getting out of that armchair and building something … [tup]
Joe,
Nice looking bridge. The problem for me is that I’m trying to build a very prototypical model of the hanging bridge. It’s 273 feet in length. I have all dimensions except this part. As soon I have this info I will order all the styrene I need to build it. It has been very hard work to get all the dimensions but I’m nearly there and it feels great! The best picture I have from the side is this:
Maybe someone that have more experience of the construction method can tell me how this side is put together? Are these vertical angles? I have the distance between them but I’m unsure if it’s angles all the side or just some of them.
Here is how my hanging bridge module looks like at the moment. Joe, are you using a plain to smooth the easyspline masonite roadbed on your construction DVD?
The ‘hanging bridge’ is made up of 3 spans totaling 175’. The 3 spans are bolted to the north wall of the canyon, and the south side of the spans are supported by the 2 ‘A’ frames in the photos. It has a ballasted deck. There are no piers under the junction of the spans, hence the ‘A’ frame support.
Jim
Yes I remember seeing an article about a steel plate girder bridge in a recent MR issue. Good luck! -beegle55
jrbernier, Where do you get 175 feet from? I have the original drawings and the three sections are 273 feet (88 + 91 + 94).
electro:
Oh yes, I remember you asking me the plane question elsewhere. I use a surform plane:
You can get one for $5 from Amazon here.
I use it to smooth any glue bumps or uneven spots in the top of the spline. If you want to make angled ballast shoulders on the edge of the extra-wide spline roadbed like you have done, the job will be a bit much for a surform plane by hand. I would suggest a router if you want a uniform and fast job without passing out from all the effort it would take to do your roadbed ballast slope by hand. [swg]
The Royal Gorge excursion railroad site indicates that the bridge is 175’. Here are some web sites with more pictures and info:
http://ghostdepot.com/rg/mainline/royal%20gorge%20route/royal.htm
http://www.raftecho.com/royalgorge-arkansasriver/hanging-bridge/
http://www.royalgorgereservations.com/about.aspx
If you have the drawing for the bridge, they should be accurate. It does seem to be strange that the 3 spans are not the same size though…
Jim
Joe, Thanks for your answer. I just learned that it’s called ‘hyvel rasp’ in Sweden. A mix between a plain and a rasp. I will try to get one.
Why don’t you sell your Volvo and buy a copy of Paul Mallery’s “Bridge and Trestle Handbook” from Carstens Publications. They’re the ones that publish “Railroad Model Craftsman”. The ISBN is 1-911868-99-2. In the ooh-ess-of-ah it is currently retailing for $22.95; I don’t know how many krona that is because I don’t keep track of the exchange rate on a daily basis.
electrolove
The club I go to has a model of the hanging bridge. I’ll email the rest of the members and ask them where they got it.
dekruif
In a quick review of the links Jim posted earlier, two different articles claim the “girder” portion of the bridge is 175 feet in length. I can’t tell from the pictures in those links and I haven’t found any other links that give a longer dimension, but it could be that the “hanging” portion of the girders is 175’ long and other non-hanging spans increase the total length to 273 feet. Maybe someone else has a more definitive answer.
In any event, the Hanging Bridge is quiet a feat of engineering! I’d enjoy seeing the model when it’s completed!
Darrell, quiet…for now
I’m very interested in that. Please tell me more about it when you have an answer from the club members.
Yes, it’s a VERY nice place to model with lots of details and dramatic scenery. I will post updates here when I make progress.
Electrolove, I am modeling this bridge also. Where did you get the drawings? Can you share them? I have been looking everywhere for the plans for this bridge, and have been unable to find them. I also have a couple of books that give information on this type of bridge that has been helpful. The first book was mentioned above and is very good for general information. The other book is Rails Through the Gorge by Doris B. Osterwald, ISBN # 978-0-931788-16-1.
I keep seeing the 175 foot measurement but measuring it on Google Earth showed closer to your 275 feet. That caused me some consternation, so I was very interested in your post indicating it was that length.
There are stiffener angles on the plates of the side of the bridge. I think they are 6" by 4" angles. I haven’t determined the exact height of the plate girder but I think it is 8 or 9 feet.