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For years I've had a Lionel 300 Hellgate bridge (MTH 11-90001) on my layout:

 

 

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The topic of clearances has come up here on the forum a few times.  I posted these photos in response to questions about the Lionel Super 381:  It does NOT fit through the #300 Hellgate Bridge:

 

 

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Note that the clearance problem is actually width of the bridge, not height.

 

Rumors have abounded about the Lionel re-issue of the bridge in 1999 as the number 305, modified to accept two O Gauge tracks (Lionel 6-32904).  

I finally found a used one for sale.

 

The "original" 300 Hellgate Bridge is 28-1/2" long overall, 10-3/4" wide, and 11-1/2" high.

The clearances of the bridge opening are 5-7/8" wide and 7-1/2" high at the center point of the arch (7" above tubular track rail).

 

The re-issue 305 Hellgate bridge is 30" long overall, 12" wide, and 11-1/8" high.

The clearances of the opening are 7" wide and 7-1/2" high at the arch center point - still 7" above the track rails.

 

 

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Here is the 305 installed on my layout in place of the 300 (involving minimal modification of the approaches to accomodate the extra 1-1/2" in length):

 

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And here is the Super 381, under it's own power, clearing the bridge!  (Note the obvious... the pantographs are down!!)

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Hellgate 305
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Originally Posted by ptbarnm69:

YOU STATED THAT THE 305 VERSION, AKA REISSUE, WILL ACCEPT 2 O GAUGE TRACKS. AT WHAT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TRACKS IF YOU KNOW? I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF US USE 31/2 OR 4" CENTER TO CENTER, MIDDLE RAILS. THEN, WOULD LIONELS OR MTH HUSKY STACKS CLEAR THE SIDE ARCHES?

AND, YOU HAVE A VERY NICE LAYOUT.

MARSHALL 614-768-2005  E-MAIL IS  mgr6420@hotmail.com.

3 1/2 center to center, 1 7/8 center to side of bridge with lionel O track.

Originally Posted by ptbarnm69:

YOU STATED THAT THE 305 VERSION, AKA REISSUE, WILL ACCEPT 2 O GAUGE TRACKS. AT WHAT DISTANCE BETWEEN THE TRACKS IF YOU KNOW? I BELIEVE THAT MOST OF US USE 31/2 OR 4" CENTER TO CENTER, MIDDLE RAILS. THEN, WOULD LIONELS OR MTH HUSKY STACKS CLEAR THE SIDE ARCHES?

AND, YOU HAVE A VERY NICE LAYOUT.

MARSHALL 614-768-2005  E-MAIL IS  mgr6420@hotmail.com.

Marshall:

 

Re the track measurements on the double track 305 Hellgate, I use two sections of 37” Gargraves across mine.  The tracks are set as wide as possible with the edge of the ties right up against the channel along each side.  The resulting center-rail to center-rail distance is 3 5/8”.  That leaves one inch on each side between the outer rails and the inside wall of the bridge.  

 

I don’t run any double stacks so I can’t answer the rest of your question but it looks like Steve may have answered it. 

 

If the double stacks don’t clear the arch, you could always set the tracks closer together and if they don’t clear on the inside, you could use relays triggered by insulated rails or IR detectors to permit only one train to cross the bridge at a time.

 

HTH,

 

Bill 

I have the Lionel ReIssue Hellgate Bridge(305) for two track operation

O Gauge.  I have no problems with my Lionel Husky Stack Cars 

running thru the bridge.  This bridge is the highlight of my layout,

it connects both sides of my split '8x11' O Gauge layout.

 

In my opinion for O Gauge Operation Lionel hit it out of the park with

this Pre War reissue classic.

 

Many thanks,

 

Billy C 

Originally Posted by MOPAC:

hojack

I think you tricked us, you have the Jedi master controlling every thing.

 

Is the layout all standard gauge or do you have O-gauge also ?

 

 

 

This layout is all standard gauge.  I do have a smaller O Gauge layout for running some prewar tinplate O.

 

On the standard gauge layout, there are four main loops, and the outside one is set up to accommodate most of the biggest trains - the Super 381, state cars, Hiawatha.  I used some G scale tunnel openings and bridges on this loop to get the clearances I wanted.  The Hellgate was on one of the inner loops, and the 305 upgrades that particular section of track to clear the bigger trains.

 

Changing the bridges out was pretty easy.  Yoda levitated the old one out of there just like Luke's fighter on Degoba.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Folks,

 

We recently wrote about the #305 Hellgate Bridge in the December 2013 issue of O Gauge Railroading, Run 267, and how it was developed in the late 1990s.  The production versions were released in 1999 and they really are great for O gauge. You can put two lines of tubular track in a #305 with no problems because it was designed to fit them and was also built so that the two tracks could take TMCC signals without interference.  In the article we demonstrated how you can fit two lines of FasTrack in the bridge, even though it was not designed for it. One of the things we thought about but did not do was cut away part of the plastic ballast on the FasTrack pieces so they would fit better in the #305.

 

As far as Husky Stacks are concerned, that seems to pushing the envelop for #305, but it is nice to know that it works in some cases.

 

Anyway, if you read the article, you will get some interesting background on the development of the #305.

 

We have an upcoming article in the works that will illustrate some factory "one off"  305s and they are really cool!

 

Ed Boyle

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