A little bit of Colorado

[Cajonpassfan]

Not much traffic here, so I thought I'd contribute a little. As some of you know, I've been working on a friend's very large HO layout over the last 2 1/2 years. Virtually all the standard gauge track is in place and operational, and we are getting started on a section we call the "narrow gauge country", the last of six isles at the back of the room. Other than transition era Santa Fe, my second love is Colorado narrow gauge and so the theme is, you guessed it, Colorado, with inspiration from several narrow gauge roads. The photo below illustrates progress to date: 3/4 inch plywood roadbed branch to "Red Mountain" with multiple mines and switchbacks planned and under construction. The reason for the sloped framing on the right is a hidden standard gauge staging yard underneath, a mushroom design.  If there's interest, I'll post updates as we make our way up the mountain. I'll attach some prototype inspirational photos later to illustrate the theme.
Thanks,
Otto K.

[Cajonpassfan]

We're looking at building some trestles. Does anyone make HOn3 bridge ties? Or bridge track?
Thanks, Otto

[Dave V]

We're looking at building some trestles. Does anyone make HOn3 bridge ties? Or bridge track?
Thanks, Otto

On my trestles, I used 9' bridge ties in accordance with Rio Grande Southern practice. I used the Mt Albert Scale Models (available through Fast Tracks) 10-foot bridge ties and used a chopper to trim one foot off each.

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks Dave, looks like that's what we'll need to use. Appreciate the pointer.
Given the size of this layout, I was kind of hoping for pre-made bridge track, like what's available in standard gauge. Oh well...
Otto

[Hawghead]

Thanks Dave, looks like that's what we'll need to use. Appreciate the pointer.
Given the size of this layout, I was kind of hoping for pre-made bridge track, like what's available in standard gauge. Oh well...
Otto

I'm pretty sure Micro Engineering makes bridge track in a flex track.  I'm not sure if it comes in the rail code or tie length you're looking for.

Scott

[Dave V]

I'm pretty sure Micro Engineering makes bridge track in a flex track.  I'm not sure if it comes in the rail code or tie length you're looking for.

Scott

Micro Engineering does (did?) make some bridge track, specifically code 55, and you get two 7" pieces. I don't know what the tie length is though.

That said, using real wood ties is actually quite easy. I made a 9' wide jig for my straight trestles (I eyeballed it for the curve on Bridge 45-B and the Ophir end of 45-A) and basically took a piece of code 70 flex and stripped off just a few ties at a time. By doing so I was able to keep the rails in gauge (double-checking with an ME Hon3 gauge tool of course) as I went.

[Cajonpassfan]

Dave that sounds like a relatively easy way of doing it.
Scott, thank you, I'll order a sample and see what makes more sense for us.
Thank you both, gents.
Otto

[rodsup9000]

   Otto, Would post more photos of that nice layout.

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, here's a couple of shots of the narrow gauge line where some of the scenery is going in. The Concor Goose has authentic sound, including the cool honking' horn
More to come as we move up the mountain...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

The 3/4" plywood track boards with N scale cork roadbed are moving up the mountain, from 45" at the base station to 72" at the mines on lower right. The floor is raised 12" in this area. The scene below (the unscenicked area) is about 8' wide, ridge/view block to ridge/view block and about 32' long. I need to finish the roadbed alignments; tracklaying crew to follow.
Pretty exciting to be making so much progress...
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, we need a 14" long, 10" high trestle on a 28" curve and 2% grade....
My friend dug up a very old plastic AHM kit to use...Umm, the bents are less than 9 by 9 inch timbers which couldn't hold up the bridge let along the trains on top of it, and it is straight and level. Otherwise a perfect choice😜 Well it was cheap...

I ended up completely re-engineering the structure by doubling up the bents and introducing curvature.
I think it will work...taking it in tomorrow to test fit the layout.
Fun stuff!
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Getting some rough scenery contours in, using plaster "specialist bandage". The trestle goes in the roadbed gap at the lower left of the pic. The lower standard gauge (hidden) track to staging is at 42" elevation, the mine tracks above at 72".
Should be spectacular, when we are done.
Fun stuff!
Otto

[Cajonpassfan]

Well, it fits, kind of. I ended up using the ME Code 55 bridge track. It comes in two pieces described to be 7" long, except they aren't. They are not quite seven inches long, so I'm short. I paid $10 for the track and $15 for shipping so I'm a bit reluctant to spend another $25 for an inch of track...I'll probably rig something using rail and hand cut ties to match.

Bridges are a lot of work! Still, I think it will look good at the end of the isle...
Thanks for following,
Otto

[dcarrell8]

This looks really nice Otto!  What was the sandy buff brown color that's in one of the pics?  Or is that what the color of the kit?

[rodsup9000]

Looks nice setting there.