Anyone build their own Bridges?

I have alot of bridges on my layout some from scratch, some store bought.

If you are set and really want scratch to build this bridge do it!

Plastruct still sells structural shapes at my LHS.

The toughest thing will be to generate some drawings of what you want. I would collect allot of prototype photos before you begin.

Then I would create a "jig" or fixure to build up both sides, then another for the "floor structure"

Be prepared to spend alot of time on it. The Atlas bridge is great and they do come up at shows for a good price. But Scratch building is so much more unique.

I have a few but we are just getting started.  Russ

Lowes and Home Depot sell aluminum strips, including 90-degree angles.  I have built some long bridges, using 4-40 bolts to hold the parts together.  The strips can be cut with a hacksaw, or if you have a power miter saw, you can get an aluminum cutting blade.

I did a concrete trestle completely from scratch. The bents were made of wood covered with drywall compound:

I have done a lot of elevated lines for my shelf layout.

  Click photo to enlarge.

Yes.

I'm a fan of "concrete" as they're pretty easy to build, materials are inexpensive, and they are structurally strong. If you have access to a laser cutter, you can make some pretty ornate structure work.

A truss bridge is tricky as you need something strong to support the tracks on the span other than the truss itself which is largely cosmetic. Even the Atlas pratt truss bridge isn't supported by the truss -- it has steel stringers in the span that actually hold everything up.

A trestle is, ironically, very strong despite the delicate looks because of how the bents are constructed (use a jig or you'll go crazy) and the stringers under the track. The bents hold up the stringers. The cross bracing is just cosmetic.

Geno,

Some years back, I built a single track, O scale Pratt truss bridge using Plastruct materials and their HO plans.  The plans were enlarged using a copier and Plastruct materials adjusted accordingly.  It was my first scratchbuilt project and turned out very well to my eye.  The only thing I could not replicate was the fine rivet detail that you'll find on the Atlas bridge. 

It was 24" long and very strong.  I'd like to do another, but I can't find the plans.  Plans are included in Plastruct's HO kits of the Pratt truss bridge.  I'm hoping to avoid buying an HO kit that I don't want for $25 just to get the plans.

I'd plan on using the stringers like Atlas does and adjust the plans accordingly to accommodate them to build a much longer bridge.

Let me know if you find some plans. 

Matt supplied me with a website of prototype info and I'm still looking at the site to see if there is something I'd like to build.

I have built a few for the layout...but the one pictured below I didn't build myself...just added a few details.  It was hand built out of wood by a master at carpentry and is about 7 feet long...

Alan

Carl, 

You can buy rivets that can be applied to your bridge members. I forget where to get them, but a google search or someone on this forum will help.

I have built a few bridges, 3 from wood, and one from steel. The steel bridge is soldered. When i made my side girders, I used very thin sheet metal which I hand punched rivets, and then folded the metal in half, showing rivets inside and out. It was a tedious process, but well worth the time spent. I will take some photos and post them. I do have a complete series of build process, but they are in my other computer, and posted on another forum. I tried to transfer them, but it didn't work.

Don

Added rivet detail to 1/8" brass angle.


NWSL Sensi-Press and their Riveter advance table.

Rail, thanks for the suggestion to look for add-on rivets.  The plans I worked from actually supplied rivet detail for the gusset plates.  I used a nail head to emboss the styrene plates rather than leave them blank; turned out pretty good--even fabulous for the uninitiated.

PS:  I better get busy building bridges--I have 8 pairs of Auell Industries bridge shoes to put to use.

Here's a hinged bridge I built from aluminum strips, over the access to my workshop.  The truss is structural:  the railbed girders alone probably wouldn't hold the weight

Well done!!!  What is the span?

Russ, if you have plans for the truss bridge, I'd seriously welcome a copy.

Thanks for all of the replies. I'm not a rivet-counter per se, but if the rivet detail can be done, I'd be willing to try it.  The bridge I need has to span a 36-40" opening, be hinged on one side, and sturdy enough to take repeated openings and closings- it will be in front of the entry door, so it will get lifted alot. I think all of that intricate strap and an angle detail isn't really necessary- in fact I think it would just get broken if I tried to replicate it in scale. I still need to do more research on what type of bridge will be appropriate.

Geno

why not just go with a girder style bridge and avoid the worry of something getting broken

Pingman, the span is 41".  Leads from main layout to a small table on which is turntable and loco storage.  It's hinged at the turntable yard end.  The picture below is with it raised.  When lowered, the cable gets plugged into a socket to supply all power.  The under track strips fit into slits in the main table, and when they do, they press a microswitch.  When opened, the microswitch releases and throws a switch on the main table, so trains can't take the route to the open bridge.

This is just a inexpensive wood bridge for a example on using different materials. Still needing the cross supports.

Larry

Truss bridges are very nice but delicate, especially if it's going to be moved a lot.

Nice looking bridges guys.

Don

Truss bridges needn't be delicate.  ALong the NE Corridor, some of the brisges appear to be very sturdy, in contrast to the many bridges similar to those tr18 depicts, that are found throughout the county.

Not strictly speaking abridge, the picture below is a scratch-built 2-track coal trestle.  Unloading cars dump into a hopper, whose chute feeds into the scoop of a #97 coal elevator on the next level down.

I was of course referring to "models" of truss bridges like the ones we build. I would surely hope the real ones are sturdy

 Nice work, and good timing Avanti Pete, I was ready to do something like this myself. I've been using up some old latex wood putty up before it dries in the tub. That looks more like cement. The putty looks too smooth, cant get the stipple right.

 You need a hiker with a huge pack dressed in blue looking down into the water

Don't bet on it.  I know of some that are so antiquated and deteriorated that there are very low speed restrictions.

Because of the geometry, even a model with thin strips can be strong:  the critical issue is how the members are fastened together

Those bridges you show are good-looking.

Geno,

Here is another access bridge built by forumite Susan Deats with detailed plans on her blog:

http://www.slsprr.net/features/bridges1.htm

WOW!!!

Like that construction.

I should have mentioned that the concrete was finished with a light dusting of Rust-Oleum  Desert Bisque, which is a textured paint.  

I constructed several for our layout from different materials - but mostly stripwood. Also 1/8" masonite for girder bridges. It was fun.

We had 16 or 17 bridges and trestles...

These orange trestles are from my boyhood American Flyer trains. Still look good today

The railings were lifted from the MTH Truss bridges and used in several configurations

This 3 track (1 over a double track line) Truss is about 4' in length and made from ripped basswood

The concrete piers are 2x6 pine with a spackling layer applied

The lower arched 'causeway' is the Key West Causeway made from blue foam board

My first attempt at a deck bridge was done with an MTH graduated trestle set and wood.

I've made a few from sheet metal.

And this one from wood.

Hope you enjoy.

Dan

Nice work, drodder

https://groups.yahoo.com/neo/g...amp;photoFilter=ALL#

I'll give this a try once more. If this link doesn't work, I'll have to fire up the old computer and get the from there. I sent this to myself and it opened, but that may be because I'm a member of this particular group. 

Don

Geno,  Try to find a Atlas bridge. In the long run its worth the money and the detail is great. The double track are hard to find but the singles are around and there is a expansion/add on kit to convert to double track. They can be a little bit of a PIA to assemble but easier than scratch building. Use Plastruct Plastic Weld for assembly.  I saw a single track bridge today at Mercer Junction.

Ok here's what I got.  I built this over the summer.  I used 1/2" hollow steel tubing.  I cut all of the angles with a cheap chop saw.  The entire bridge is mig welded together so it's the most durable piece on the layout.  

    Gino if you are interested I purchased A Atlas double track 40in. pratt truss bridge from Charles Ro two years ago for around $159.00 witch was less than what Atlas O was charging. Choo Choo Kenny 

Here are some created by club members completely out of scrap wood.

I have/am building only two bridges on the entire layout, niether of which probably qualifies for being a "bridge" as you define it.  

This mainline bridge is only 16 inches long.  Not completed as you can see.

This 'Streets bridge is complete and was actually quite a challenge, but its barely 18 inches long.