This Would Make A Killer RR Bridge

[TrainCat2]

I was looking at something is eastern AZ along I-40 when I spotted an icon that grabbed my attention. When I opened it up, I was struck that this vehicle bridge could be redone for a KILLER bridge on a model railroad.



Trestle piers, inverted Pratt Truss spans ... chills how that lacey detail would grab at you.

[dnhouston]

That would be a cool RR Bridge

[sd45elect2000]

I was looking at something is eastern AZ along I-40 when I spotted an icon that grabbed my attention. When I opened it up, I was struck that this vehicle bridge could be redone for a KILLER bridge on a model railroad.



Trestle piers, inverted Pratt Truss spans ... chills how that lacey detail would grab at you.

I thought your lenticular bridge was quite good for a rail or highway bridge Bob.

I like the Tucker spans the CNW had, talk about detail!

Randy

[TrainCat2]

Since I don't think there will be a market for my bridges anymore due to brass cost, that has not stopped me from thinking about bridges to make for my own edification. I do have all of the plans and designs to create the Whitford Bridge in N, but maybe something ... bigger. Maybe the ultimate WOW.

[dem34]

With or withought etched catenary?

[TrainCat2]

With or withought etched catenary?

I would assume you recognize the bridge. Anyone else ?

[nickelplate759]

Hell Gate?

[TrainCat2]

Correct.  There are three things I have always thought etched brass would be perfect for in creating a model that grabs at people and evokes awe: The Saturn 5 Launch Utility Tower (LUT) in 1/72, the Eiffel Tower in N-Scale and the Hells Gate Bridge in N. At 1017 feet long, the Hells Gate would be 76.275in long just for the steel structure.

[pjm20]

Here's something else for the list: PRR and waterfalls -

[samusi01]

Quite coincidentally, found this image this evening, the beginning of a seven-page article on the building thereof.

[Sokramiketes]

I'd be in for a Hellgate bridge, just given it's connection to toy train history and Lionel.

But, the bridge that would really make a great scale model in N (or my preference, Z) would be the "bridge in a bridge" on the now BNSF over the Columbia River near Rock Island, WA.

https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=washington/bnsfrockislandbridge/

Tell me where to send a check for one of those...  The link has a bunch of great articles and drawings with dimensions...

[ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[basementcalling]

Well, if it's come big or stay home time, Joso Bridge on the UP over the Snake River between Spokane and Wallua, WA would be epic.

That's not the whole length, it continues to the left. Hell, I'd settle for just some bridge towers to replace the ubiquitous and overused Micro Engineering steel bridge towers.

[TrainCat2]

That is a viaduct tower that I would even like for myself!! I love the combination of cross-bracing on the vertical tower legs as well as the horizontal beams. The open sway bracing gives the tower some personality. Nice Pick!!

From the image below and the info from HAER, that tower is 40ft wide and less than the 270ft height at the river. The Joso towers were either 30ft of 40ft wide and deck girders between towers varied from 60ft to 80ft in length. The center Warren Deck Trusses are exactly like my Topock bridge but were single track at 21ft wide and varied in length from 206ft to 246ft. I have a 2-track version of the Topock at 186ft etched but unbuilt at this moment so a change in the floor beams would make it into a single track.

The image below tells me everything I need to know on how to build an accurate tower. Kinda scary that one pic can do that, LOL. The question would be prototypical design to build that bridge (or a portion of it) or prototypical to work with ME 40ft and 80ft spans? To include all of that detail would make for a pricey viaduct tower compared to an ME tower that is 8.5in (113ft) high with a market price of around $14. Twenty min of gluing an ME and your done, not so on a proto brass tower.



Found this:

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ya know, there might really be something to that: kits that extend or dress up standard well trodden stuff like the ME bridges.

[TrainCat2]

I found this really nice drone video of the Joso Bridge. It was the first time I could get a look at the Warren trusses in the center. Sadly, I have nothing like them in my design catalog so if this bridge was to be done, I would have to do those bridges from scratch.

Never the less, a cool video of the bridge.