a question

I would install the bridge first and build around it.

I agree wholeheartedly with Jim. Install the bridge first.

I also agree that the bridge should come first.

Art

cool!!!!

  are there "steel bridges" already made for curves?  like this?

and what you say makes sense

you can find flexible plate girder at Scenic Express 

i had not seen their products

WOW, about sums it up. just spent an hour looking and making notes

thanks for the input.  I am so much a novice at this, I can remember in 1950 using christmas tree lights to light up my buildings on the train board under my bed,  My first attempt i bought porcelan fixtures, and wired them up in series (at 7 years old who knew about parralel) blew every fuse in the house.... it was on castors and was just a figure "8" but i had a coal dump and a crossing and few buildings

my board was green and the roads were painted white.  Have no idea what happened to it when i left to join the Marines,  That was 53 years ago this December, traded my trains for a M1 and Marine Corps boot camp.  stayed in from 1962 to 1989

But am having a ball with all the new technology, I mean who ever thought that a computer could control a model railroad

thanks again

I used foam to make my elevations.  I built my bench top flat and changed elevations using foam.  I go from 0 to 6 inches.  On one end I used Woodland Scenics risers and on the other I used Styrofoam.  I found a local supplier that could do custom cuts.  The company makes the white styrofoam panels used for insulation between framing.  One thing I learned from my building is to check the height of your tallest piece of rolling stock.  I crossed over my track with a MTH Steel Arch Bridge that is set on the bridge piers and my Husky Stack Car will not clear the bridge.  Check out http://bridgeboss.com for curved bridges.