Hellgate Bridge

You purchased the Lionel modern version. This can handle 2 O-gauge tracks.

The real Hellgate crosses a river. Many run them flat on the layout. I like elevated with a train travelling underneath. 

Congrats! Now get the weathering tools out!

Love the Hellgate bridge.  I'm sure yours will look great, once you decide how to incorporate it.  

DO NOT WEATHER THAT BEAUTY. Leave it in its current state--the way it was meant to be.

Thanks - no plan for weathering, i think that I will keep it like it is.

 

I do plan some type of elevation for the bridge, its too nice not to have something underneath.

 

Cheers,

 

Sean

Artist Chris Burden created the Hell Gate in 1/48 scale as part of an exceptional exhibit.

One might get an idea just how large the amazing Hellgate is especially in O scale.

So where is that going on your layout erik? I can see those key locos running across it

Erik it looks like a whole 027 layout could be built on that thing. Seriously love it

Sean,

Spoken with authority and conviction. Shows true dedication to the "Tinplate Lifestyle" . 

  

Thanks, Eric, for posting pictures of the late Chris Burdens' "Bridge" exhibit. For the Meccano enthusiast, another Chris Burden bridge, and kit.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Holy crap Mill City returns!!!

Hey Matt, are you still out on your heinous hiatus?

I like his work Jon. He was very talented.

I agree, Eric. He will be sorely missed.

 

Sean:

 

I’m a little late responding to your post.  Attached are photos of how I installed my newer Hellgate Bridge which is the modern Lionel 2-track version.  It doesn’t cross a river but has trains running parallel to it underneath.  The second level was added long after the first level and I needed something to span the tracks on the first level.   It was a tight fit!

 

Note the piers supporting the bridge which were custom made by a friend of mine from wood.  He etched the sides to look like concrete blocks.  He also did the walkways and the railings on the walkways and along the approach tracks.  My wife painted the wooden piers.

 

I added LED’s in the wooden piers plus a blinking red LED on the top of the bridge.

 

Bill  

 

WftTrains,

Bill, Fantastic idea, it really looks nice. A novel way to incorporate a larger accessory.

Pappy:

 

Thanks.  But I’m still waiting for the scenery crew to show up!

 

Bill

Thanks Bill, I like the added piers you built underneath, real nice touch. I might borrow your idea.

I do plan to have something underneath, I just haven't decided if it'll be river, road or rail. If I do rail I would have to rework my track plan a bit, but since I've been in planning since 2005, what's a few more revisions.

Pappy - thanks, I like the template look too. Reminds me of the old days.

Cheers,

Sean

Nice get Sean! The Hellgate is one of the best tinplate toys of all time.

 

My Hellgate is a major point of my NYC themed layout.

 

The Chris Burden bridges are neat. I saw them on exhibit some years ago. Big. As a toy train operator they did feel a bit "empty" without any trains running over them.

 

http://tinplatenewyork.tumblr.com/

Here's my MTH Hellgate. It required me to remove some inner spars off the green part and pull out the arches from each end in order to get my scale superliners, gushy doubles tacks and hi-cube box cars across but you can't really tell unles you bend down n look up

Here is a photo of a pair of bases I made for the Glancy Train Club at the Detroit Historical Museum

I'm lazy..  I just have my bridge on the flat on my 1st level.  My Bascule Bridge will be

on the second level.

KRK

Jim

Looks good, any plan on weathering the bridge?



       

This may be just a bit off topic, however, I offer three different size hellgates, 24, 38, and 48 inch in length, all available in single and dual track widths. My version has lighted columns at the very top, wiring is hidden w cored holes in within each column.

The columns are painted in a textured stone type paint. Customer can choose most any colors for the bridge. See a few examples below.

 

jim r

 

 

 

 

 

Most bridges I weather or at least dull down.

 

 

But, not a nice shiny Hellgate!!!

 

It's a breed by itself - and a thoroughbred at that!

 

Jim

here is the real bridge showing a bit on how it fits into the East River landscape...

 

and the original catalog page also sketches in a suggestion...

 

good luck with it...gary

A Hellgate Bridge looks good on any layout.  That's the great thing about imagination.

OKHIKER:

 

I like your Christmas layout as the centerpiece of my Christmas layout every year is also a Hellgate Bridge, in this case the pre-war version.

 

Bill