I am creating a layout set in Pennsylvania, transition era. I’ve put together a nice stone viaduct from Metcalfe Models, UK. Fun build. But I’ve come up against several questions and the research I’ve done is at best ambiguous. I’m betting the knowledge I’m looking for is here in the forum.
Does track on a stone viaduct have cork roadbed or not? I’ve been searching for an appropriate photo of various viaducts scattered across Pennsylvania and other northeastern states but all I’ve found are photographs that show the viaduct from the ground level (to display the stone work) or from an elevated level (aircraft or drone) to display the length. Apparently showing what the tracks look like at track level is a “not-so-much” thing. I would assume cork roadbed, for it’s sound-deadening quality, is preferred. But I wonder if that would raise the track too high above the deck.
Do tracks on such a stone viaduct have guard rails or rerailers like tracks that cross a truss bridge? I would assume so, but again the high elevation photographs I’ve found aren’t detailed enough to prove for me one way or the other.
If viaducts like this use guard rails, where is the appropriate place to begin such rails - at the exact beginning of the viaduct where the transition from fill to viaduct takes place? Or - several feet or several ties before that transition? Photos in other threads here show both examples. There likely is no “standard” in the prototype, but what have you done?
A final question: I remember seeing an article in a magazine about bending the guard rails (a small nick cut into the inside foot of the rail) and soldering them together at the point but I cannot track it down. I also saw a Forum discussion here that noted the guard rails should NOT be joined at the ends, to prevent a short-circuit. Current (sorry, I could not resist - and that in and of itself is another pun-ish incidence) thoughts about
#1 - Both. Some stone viaducts have sides high enough that any roadbed profile is obscured or unnoticable because the ballast is going right up against stone taller than the roadbed. Others, the Thomas Viaducted in Relay, MD for instance, have clear ballast profiles that cork on the subroadbed would represent.
#2 - The first three I went looking at (Thomas, Rockville, Starucca) did not have guard rails. Presumably, there’s ones out there that do. My general understanding is that guard rails are there to prevent derailed equipment from striking the bridge structure or lineside structures, not to keep the equipment from falling off the bridge entirely (which may be impossible?). Given that the structure of the viaduct is entirely below the track, there’s no superstructure for it to strike. For instance, I know of a bridge that consists of a deck girder over water married to a “regular” girder over railroad tracks. Only the girder bridge has guard rails and the deck section does not.
#3 - No standard I can see. To me, it would depend on if the bridge is removable or not. If the bridge is removable, I’d end the guard rails at the ends of the bridge.
#4 I would not leave the point open. That just seems like an open invitation to snag something, like your skin.
Others have given good info. I will add that the Rockville Bridge is a big railfan site and a search will turn up many photos. BTW - I spend a lot of time there.
I almost did as well. Long time ago I interviewed at a church in Gratz just up the road. Didn’t go so well, think they really didn’t want a “big city pastor” trying to adjust to small town life. Turned out in my favor though so.
Thanks for the viaduct help. I looked at Rockville and Starruca. I was surprised to see a turnout for a divergent route on the viaduct. Guess prototype railroads are more confident their track work is safer than our model track work. Or at least mine.
Thank, but that fish wasn’t anything special for the Susquehanna. It was a little over 16" and 2.5 pounds. Wasn’t even the biggest one of that day but I wanted a picture with the bridge in the background.
Thank you gentlemen. I’m going with cork roadbed between the viaduct “floor” and the track, and no guard rails. Which makes it all easier. Anyone want to buy some n-scale ME bridge track?
