What dimension scale lumber for a stick-built trestle, N scale?

[Hedron]

Maybe someone has sorted this out and can give me a quick answer.
Actually an abandoned narrow gauge logging line, if that makes any difference. Maybe 25 to 30 scale feet high.

For design for the trestle, I would probably go with this sort of style:

[wazzou]

It varies, but…
Bulkhead timbers are usually 8x16.
Piling is generally 14” in Diameter.
Pile caps are most often 14x14.
Stringers can be 8x16, 8x17, 10x17 or 10x18.  Sometimes, I come across former SP trestles that have stringers at 8x17-3/4.
Depending on axle loading, there are three or four Stringers beneath each rail.
Guard timber or tie spacers are 4x8.
Bent bracing can vary, but a lot of 4x12.

Hope that helps.

[Hedron]

Thanks. My newbie question was more along the lines of what size of typical hobby stripwood stock would meet those dimensions.

[wazzou]

Thanks. My newbie question was more along the lines of what size of typical hobby stripwood stock would meet those dimensions.

Do you have a scale ruler?

I prefer to use Evergreen Styrene for this type of scratch building.
Evergreen used to at one time have a conversion table that told you what the sizes equated to in each scale.
If nothing else, just take the dimensions and multiply by 160.  Example: .080 would be almost 13” in N Scale.

Both of these were built entirely of Styrene.



Sorry, the camera’s target on the second one was more of the trains.

[peteski]

. . .
If nothing else, just take the dimensions and multiply by 160.  Example: .080 would be almost 13” in N Scale.

Or the other way around, just divide the 1:1 dimensions Bryan provided by 160, then chose strips closest to those dimensions.

[wazzou]

Or the other way around, just divide the 1:1 dimensions Bryan provided by 160, then chose strips closest to those dimensions.

Hahahaha, yes, of course.

If scale fidelity is a chief concern, in my experience, there’s a need to combine some strips of widths and/or thicknesses.

[nkalanaga]

Bryan:  Very true.  There are very few true N scale lumber sizes available.

For simplicity, using wood, I'd use 3/32" for the pilings and caps.  That's 15" in N scale, very close to 14", and much easier than trying to cut something to size.  If anyone measures your model, and complains about it, tell them they can build the replacement!

Most logging roads built their own trestles, using whatever was available, as they had plenty of logs and usually their own sawmill.  At least for Western roads, piles were usually just roughly debarked logs, so were only approximately a standard size.  "These look good, let's use them"!

So, you can use whatever sizes you can get, within reason, without raising eyebrows.

[chuck geiger]

https://www.ebay.com/itm/133075536857?hash=item1efbeb8bd9:g:5B0AAOSwvQ9c-G4J

[robert3985]

I may be late to the party, but here are some UP drawings for "Light Traffic Lines" trestles that might fit the bill for a narrow gauge trestle...just build it proportionally narrower.

Two types of bridges are here...one is "pile" construction, meaning with round supports, and the other is with "frame" construction, meaning square supports. 

I included a water barrel drawing and its respective platform along with a specification as to where UP wanted them mounted...which might or might not be relevant.  The barrels would be gone on an abandoned line, but the platforms would probably still be there.

Just in case you're going to include rails, I also included a guard rail drawing.

Photo (1) - Trestle Construction for Light Traffic Lines using Pile Construction:


Photo (2) - Trestle Construction for Light Traffic Lines using Frame Construction:


Photo (3) - Wooden Water Barrel & Platform for Trestles:


Photo (4) - Guard Rails Using Old Frogs as Opposed to Castings:


Maybe these will assist you in constructing your abandoned Narrow Gauge trestle.

Photo (5) - Here's the last trestle I built for @Nato Nate Goodman's layout a couple of years ago:


Have Fun!!
Bob Gilmore

[nkalanaga]

I've also seen narrow gauge bridges with the guard rails on the outside of the running rails, if you want something different.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Do you have a scale ruler?

I prefer to use Evergreen Styrene for this type of scratch building.
Evergreen used to at one time have a conversion table that told you what the sizes equated to in each scale.
If nothing else, just take the dimensions and multiply by 160.  Example: .080 would be almost 13” in N Scale.

Both of these were built entirely of Styrene.



Sorry, the camera’s target on the second one was more of the trains.

Typical thread drift... what's that tan ground cover around the tracks? I need to find me some.

[wazzou]

On the left of the track here @Ed Kapuscinski ?

[Lemosteam]

Came across this:



https://www.midwesttechnology.com/midwest-products-scale-lumber-gauge/

Also Midwest Products makes scale lumber packets.  The packages have conversions for each scale on the back. Most hobby shops carry the stripwood. Yes this is the same midwest that the cork comes from.

Here is the Midwest website: https://saundersmidwest.com/midwest-products/

Catalog of scale wood products can be downloaded here: https://saundersmidwest.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/2022-Midwest-Products-Catalog.pdf

[Ed Kapuscinski]

On the left of the track here @Ed Kapuscinski ?

Yessir.

[Dave V]

I used 1/16" square basswood for the posts on my N scale trestles. It comes out to pretty close to 12x12. The girts and sway braces used HO scale 2x6, looking more like 4x12 in N.