Lehigh Valley bridge project

[ednadolski]

Wow, that is some really fantastic work!   Awesome effort!   

Ed

[unittrain]

Just wondering how this bridge turned out I was following the construction earlier on this year and from the pics it was looking really good! Do you have it installed in your layout yet? I'm in the middle of a project for a single track truss bridge myself.

[Rowan]

Very nice indeed.

 

[amato1969]

Fellas, thanks for the comments.  This summer has been super-busy, so not much progress on the bridge.  I can share a few grab shots (apologies for the flash on my daughter's camera).  Here is the base color on the Delaware River, looking at the Jersey side:



And here's the PRR Bel-Del line, with basic ground cover.  I am very unhappy with the dirt color; I am using sanded grout, but it dried *way* too light and looks like sand.  Lots of work to do here this winter to gloss the river, add trees, and lots of weeds:



   Frank

[DKS]

Looking good, in spite of the dirt color. Are you including the canal?

[unittrain]

Those bridges are awesome  I'm starting one myself I have the CAD drawings and a lot of the styrene cut it is going to be a 250' Camel-Back Pratt I'm trying a new method of construction using clear styrene sheet and taping it over a scaled CAD drawing and then gluing the parts to the clear styrene making sure they line up with the drawing then I cut out the clear sheet around the details. I'll also be using Archer rivets and Gold Medal Models X-bracing. I will be posting my progress this month. The funny thing is it will be an abandoned bridge! It is based on a prototype NYC (former LE&P) trestle that crossed the Conrail Cleveland Pittsburgh mainline. The LE&P was abandoned when Penn Central came about in 68. The bridge stood abandoned till its demolition in the early 90's. But anyway as far as the dirt goes on your layout you might want to try real dirt and ground up fall leaves. I've seen many people use this technique and it looks really good. I'm getting ready to try the technique myself.

[amato1969]

Thanks to the deep dark winter weather here in the midwest, I now have two of the three main trusses in place:



Here's a detail shot showing bits of styrene strip to "shim" each truss level, and the silicone that secures it to the pier:



This is the PA side, with the resin retaining wall shimmed, and styrene footings in place.  One I lay down the basic hillside scenery, the last truss will be ready to glue in place:



Finally, a quick shot looking North up the PRR Bel-Del.  I applied more ground foam and flock, which improves the basic look a lot.  This will get lots of trees and bushes once I get rails up on the bridge:



Lots of work to do in the river as well, to hide the shims under each pier, but that's for another day!

[wm3798]

Simply incredible work!  That's going to be quite a scene when completed.

Lee

[GaryHinshaw]

Outstanding Frank!  What is the scope of the rest of the layout?  Enquiring minds want to know.

Cheers,
Gary

[amato1969]

Thanks for the comments, fellas.  This has been a long long effort!

David, sorry I missed your earlier question -- I did not plan for the canal, and I would have to modify the facia to add it.  Maybe on the next incarnation of the layout!

Gary, right now it's a simple folded bone, with staging behind the sky board.  This schematic shows the town of Phillipsburg, NJ and the connection to the PRR yard, but I don't have the yard built at this time (maybe when the kids move to college).  West of the bridge will be some rural scenery for now.



So right now it's pretty roundy-roundy, but eventually I'll have the PRR yard and staging to the east, with Florence yard at Bethlehem, PA to the west.

  Frank

[amato1969]

After some recent heads-down work sessions, I can finally see the light at the end of this project!  Here's an updated shot of the PA side, with basic ground cover in place:



A higher view shows the rails now in place:



I also trimmed out the piers with rocks, dirt (sanded grout) and some foliage:



Finally, a shot of the full scene, with apologies for the crappy lighting (the backdrop is washed out):



About all that's left are guardrails and a ladder down to each pier.

  Frank

[DKS]

Simply gorgeous.

[Philip H]

Simply gorgeous.

Ditto!

[noblerot]

That is some nice work

[sirenwerks]

Amazing!