HellGate 305 Bridge width

My initial reaction was going to be I didn't think it was wide enough without having a bridge in front of me to check it, but I found a few references that seem to indicate it can be done, though not strictly as designed.  (I'm pretty sure 2 FasTrack lines won't fit side by side in the channel of the base as you would do with regular O Gauge tubular) 

Unfortunately I don't have the article from 2013 at hand to remember exactly what was done to make them fit.

link 1.  link 2.

Here is a list of some other posts on the topic that I perused while finding the above.

Good luck, and welcome to the Forum!

-Dave

Gerry;

Welcome tothe forum... you will find some wonderful people and great advice here.

I did not review the references Dave supplied, so this may be redundant info.

You don't specify which Hellgate Bridge you are inquiring about, so I am assuming that it is one of the Lionel repro’s done in the late 90’s. I have one which I still need to find a place for on the layout. Here is a pic of the opening...

From column to column, the opening is 7” wide, but you have to take the orange insert on the floor into account - between the orange elevations on the left and right side, you only have 5 3/4”. Fastrack is app. 3 3/8” wide, so you would have to do some work to support the Fastrack going over the bridge floor. That being said, depending on what type of equipment you are running, I think two tracks over the bridge would result in some pretty tight clearances (I run a lot of scale engines and rolling stock).

Hope this helps.

I'd use tubular track inside the bridge. Menards makes a nice Fastrack tubular track adapter section.

George

Yes they will but they will ride on the built up edge. Should be no problem. 

romiller49 posted:

Yes they will but they will ride on the built up edge. Should be no problem. 

Rod;

Thank you for clearly showing part of what I was trying to say... the dual tracks you have running across the bridge support the Fastrack - without that additional support, the Fastrack would be lower in the center of the bridge than at the edges. If you want to use Fastrack, I would assume that you can run something down the center of the bridge to bring it up to the height of the elevated side.

And now a question... could you tell me the distance between the Fastrack center rails in your photo???

Thanks.

The only issue with building up support for the Fastrack would be that it decreases the clearance overhead. I would think you need at least 6.5" from the top of the rails and you need to factor in the curve of the bridge top near the sides.

George

George S posted:

The only issue with building up support for the Fastrack would be that it decreases the clearance overhead. I would think you need at least 6.5" from the top of the rails and you need to factor in the curve of the bridge top near the sides.

George

Good point, George. Here is a pic that will give you some idea of the clearance. The bump out detail at app. 3.5” above the top of the track would give me some concern, especially with the cabs on modern “squared off” diesels.

For my STD Gauge in my 305, I use tubular track in the bridge and then Fastrack adapters. Not quite the same as what you want to do, but could not give up the height.

Steve

Apples55 posted:

romiller49 posted:

Yes they will but they will ride on the built up edge. Should be no problem. 

Rod;

Thank you for clearly showing part of what I was trying to say... the dual tracks you have running across the bridge support the Fastrack - without that additional support, the Fastrack would be lower in the center of the bridge than at the edges. If you want to use Fastrack, I would assume that you can run something down the center of the bridge to bring it up to the height of the elevated side.

And now a question... could you tell me the distance between the Fastrack center rails in your photo???

Thanks.

Between center rails is 3-1/2”. From top of Fastrack rail to arch that would hit car etc is 5-5/16”. 

Even with Fastrack sitting on top of the gargraves there is still plenty of room. That’s a big boy on right and flat with trailers on left. 

romiller49 posted:

Even with Fastrack sitting on top of the gargraves there is still plenty of room. That’s a big boy on right and flat with trailers on left. 

Thanks Rod... a picture really is worth a thousand words!!!