Bridge construction

[KIM]

This is my current project. It's a bike/pedestrian bridge, utilizing a former railroad bridge. I still have a lot of detail work, as well as foundation work ahead, but I think it adds considerable to the overall view, and helps to push some of the town back.

[bcrn]

Nice photos. what brand of blue car i the second pic? Gotta like that, another bankrupt blue owner. yea!

[KIM]

That's an old MicroTrains car. It's one of the first cars I bought when I got into N Scale.

[bcrn]

Was that car, a foobie, or was it accurate? It looks like your layout is fairly well along, mine is still the plywood and pacific. Btw, are you a R.I.T.S. member, or do you get Remember the Rock? Ken

[KIM]

I was a member when I lived in Iowa, and was one of those involved with helping to save the Oskaloosa depot. I left before anything really got going on it. The people that I was working with wanted to make a theme diner, but I never helped with it. That was all done after I left. From what I understand, they were actually able to save the building. I do need to rejoin RITS. I learned quite a lot from their publications, and they could use the donation.

I'm not sure of the accuracy of the car. I worked at the Pella Window company back in the early eighties, and I saw some of these come in, but I didn't pay much attention to them. My wife has us backdating the layout to 1959(ish), so as I procure more appropriate rolling stock, cars like this one will be placed in Dioramas.

[rhpd42002]

Good looking bridge project, Douglas.

I, too, didn't realize your layout was that far along. Nice!!

[KIM]

I did some more scenic work.

This shows what I did for the bridge piling.


This is how it fits into the developing scene. The backdrop will be a large city much as the Franklin & South Manchester.


Once again we see how the bridge moves some of the town into the background, somewhat creating distance.


This one is just for fun. It's the scene we see as we emerge from the tunnel.

[bcrn]

Both sets of bridges, remind me of the rows of them over the Des Moines River, in downtown D.M., in the early 70's. ken

[BarstowRick]

Kodiak and of course everyone tuned in here.

Some nice bridges. Reminds me a bit of the pedestrian bridge in San Luis Obispo, Ca., on the old SP Coast Route. Looking good.

Just so you know some of us do have our layouts under construction and bridging would be canyons can be...well...interesting, challenging and where do they hide all those N scale bridges? .

I'ma not sure if you wanted to open the discussion to bridges on other layouts. If so, here are my examples in a quick and short slide show:
A work in progress...with abutments, footings and other details which are all on my bucket list.

Purpose of the slide show was to show off the new arrivals MTL's Santa Fe Express Cars. The bridges don't show up to poorly.

To add here, I need a double track curved bridge right where the double door box cars are sitting. Any ideas?

[KIM]

bcrn, that may have been in the back of my mind. I know those bridges well, and was always fascinated by them. The city on the hill was from memories of Ft. Madison. I always thought it was cool sitting above the yards.

Rick, have you given thought to a building a stone arch bridge? I think somebody also makes plate girder bridge sides. By combining those and tall viaduct towers, you might end up with something rather impressive.

[BarstowRick]

Kodiak, the rock bridge sounds interesting and might work. I will give that some thought.

With regard to your pedestrian bridge On the table edge, we need to find you some steps. Let's see what yahoo and an oogle google search, reveals.

[dti406]

Doug,

Regarding your ex-railroad bridge, I see no abutment on the one end and the piers are much to small to support a railroad bridge. Railroad bridges are required to hold a substantial amount of weight and those piers would be hard pressed to hold up a regular pedestrian bridge let alone one that was ex-railroad bridge.

Just my 2 Cents!

Rick J

[fredmoehrle]

I like it, just don't forgete to leave a gap in the buildings behind where the tracks would have gone.


BarstowRick,
The Walthers HO catalog used to list a couple of curved bridges, stone & IIRC steel trestle, I think it was Heljan or Preisler.
17" radius, which made them next to useless for HO, but should be quite nice for N scale.

[KIM]

Rick. You're right about the supports. This is still a work in progress. I'm still working on the support issues. The end one is not a problem as I have room to work with. The center one has tracks nearly against it on both sides, creating space issues, so I'm attempting to find a way to show more support, but not be in the way of rolling stock. I need to get out my Modeler's License and see what I can get by with. This is what happens when you try to shove something into a place that wasn't designed for it.

[nashoba]

Douglas

For the center support, do you have clearance to wrap (box) the current I beam with styrene? You could score the sheet and paint to represent granite blocks, without increasing the footprint of what you have now.

Just a thought

Mark

[KIM]

I've got about 1/4 inch between the side of a car and the support. I might have to work some illusion here. Above car height, I could have support, but below, I could use shrubbery to hide the thinness. I like this bridge here, so I'm determined to find a way of making it work. I've got it off and sitting on the workbench right now. I already had a package of Central Valley beam pieces to add to the supports, so I may make like a magician, and get my modelers license suspended, but I'll make it happen.

[BarstowRick]

May 23, 2012 8:23:47 GMT -8 fredmoehrle said:

BarstowRick,
The Walthers HO catalog used to list a couple of curved bridges, stone & IIRC steel trestle, I think it was Heljan or Preisler.
17" radius, which made them next to useless for HO, but should be quite nice for N scale.

Thanks Fred, I will give that a look. I already have one bridge on the layout that is HO. I was able to double track it. Those in the know can spot it. I like it so what the heck. Click on the link in my signature and go to H&P RR #3. Short slide show.

Here you can find the bridges I'm using and the spot where I need the new bridge. Kato gets a chance to show off. With regard to the area I need a curved bridge. Here's a hint....the Santa Fe Express cars are sitting on a curve that is screaming for a true blue bridge. Didn't I already say that? Yep, I did. LOL

[KIM]

I guess that I should put some updates on here. I showed some of these on one of the SNFFs, so they've already been seen, but here they are anyway.




It's not perfect, and even a novice Nitpicker can find fault. I think the general view of the bridge here is impressive, therefore, I stuck it an an area that wasn't designed for it, so many compromises had to be implemented. There will be valance that will finish the end of the bridge, but that's waiting until further detail and scenery work is done.

[BarstowRick]

I think the bridges look fine. I espeacially like the way you planted the trees on it. The...ahh...what? Darn diabetic vision acting up again.

Oh that's better, new pair of glasses and now I can critique the bridges. They look mighty fine.

[douggosha]

I like the railroady atmosphere Doug. Always a plus on a model railroad.

And, I detect an Atlas switch tower too. I have to build mine someday as I have had it since Atlas released it, whenever that was.



Oh, and the Big Sky Blue car too. Never knew why some people hated that scheme.

Doug

[oldjohn]

Doug

For what it's worth I like the treatment of the bridges, I think when the city is in (in the background, in stead of the brown walls) it will give the bridges true definition, and reason for existence and a great scene.