Through Truss Bridge Options

[bman]

Quick question for you folks.  Thinking of expanding the layout a bit since I acquired a bit more real estate with the oldest graduating, finding a job in his field of study, and moving into his own place.  I'm looking to model one of the ex-PRR Panhandle double track through truss bridges over either the Muskingum or Tuscarawas rivers. A quick internet search led me to either the Walthers kit(which I've build in the past and it sits on our club layout) and the Kato Unitrack one(price is cheaper than Walthers!).  My question is has anyone worked with the Kato bridge?  I know the track is held in place by a few small screws.  Has anyone replaced it with Atlas, ME,  or Peco track?  What am I getting into?  I'd like to use ME bridge flex if I can find some if I kick this off in the near future. Any ideas/thoughts appreciated and thanks! Photos from the bridge hunter website:

https://bridgehunter.com/oh/coshocton/bh41828/ 

https://bridgehunter.com/oh/tuscarawas/bh60802/

[Mark5]

The Kato bridges are nice but kinda small (130' long?).

The track is fairly easy to remove if you want to use these.

I ended up with the Walthers kit as I wanted something more substantial.

Central Valley makes a great 150' Pratt Truss - but single track only for now:

http://www.shop.cvmw.com/NScale150ftPrattTrussBridgeKit-1810.htm

Lots of room for more bridges in N!

[randgust]

Wow, 240' span and that's a big bridge, beefy, double track.

OK, I'll just say it.   Have you looked at modifying any HO spans?   Normally that would NEVER work but this isn't your typical truss bridge, either.

[Mark5]

I forgot about the BLMA bridges that were made in Bra$$, 200 foot but single track if I remember.

I want to do this bridge eventually:

http://www.coalwoodwestvirginia.com/images/2006CFM4464.JPG

I would probably have to scratch build it at this point!

Mark

[bman]

Mark5:  It is a shame the Central Valley kits are single track.  I built one of those for our club layout.  I have to say it was one of the most enjoyable kits I've ever built.  I've looked at it from time to time thinking of how to make it double track.  I'm sure it could be done.  I'm not ready to scratch build one just yet.  I could always toss something on the layout and replace later.  And I'd have to sell a kidney to get a BLMA bridge.  And after last month's kidney stone I'm not ready to do that just yet.  But I think you are correct in that they were single track.

HO bridge. Rangdust that's a great idea.   I'll see what's out there.

Wonder how a Central Valley HO kit would look in N?  Other than probably being too tall could I get a double track mainline on it? 

 thanks guys!

[wazzou]

You could just have 2 single track spans side by side.  That wasn't uncommon as traffic necessitated increased capacities. 
It would be unlikely that the existing span be torn out in favor of replacing with a double track span.
As far as the HO option, I don't think that would look very good. 
It would be possible to reduce the length of the CV bridge to give you a 200' span using two bridges rather than the 300' if using them as is.

[peteski]

Couldn't two CV Valley bridge kits be kitbashed into a double track but using 3 of the 4 sides?  Sort of marry (or Siamese) them together.

[nkalanaga]

The CV HO bridge would probably look fine for an N double-track span, as long as the width is enough.  It won't be quite twice the width of the N single track version, so you'll want to check that.  Generally, railroad bridge parts scaled roughly with the size of the bridge, so the parts would look right, and the extra height could be used for extra cross bracing.  Just like girder bridges, trusses get taller as the length increases, so a longer bridge should be taller.

For interior bracing, the CV N scale bridge parts would probably work fine, and you'll need some "stringers", as the CV bridge won't have enough.  The HO ones will be the right size, for the longer space between crossbearers, but they'll have to be rearranged for N scale spacing.

[DMetz]

What about the large double track bridge from Tomix (Tomytec)?  It is 22 inches long, which scales to about 293 feet.  It is not a fine scale model, but the impressive size makes up for some of that.  It may be too big for your location.  And unfortunately, it doesn't look like it can be shortened much.  Kleins has a couple of each color for $50.99 right now.
http://www.modeltrainstuff.com/Tomytec-N-Truss-Bridge-p/tmx-3222.htm

[Mark5]

Very good call DMetz!

Mark

[mplsjct]

Truss bridges are a fairly easy scratch building project, there are a lot of parts available that would typically be used in a double track structure, the photo shows a bridge I built using mainly HO scale Central valley parts, it's on my N scale layout.

Since I installed it, rivet decals have been made available, something that was kind of a sore spot when I originally built the structure.

Sorry for the unusual angle, it it the only image available to me while I'm at work.

[randgust]

Exactly!