Hellgate Bridge 300 and 305 – the definitive comparison

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.

Out Tinplate Tracker layout uses the 305 with two lines going through. Some of the guys running double stacks have problems. Many go through, but some do not. I do not know what brands they use.

 

Steve

 

OK. THANKS
MARSHALL

Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 10:53:48 -0700

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

hojack.

Thank you for the side by side comparison.

Robert

 

 

 

 

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 

 

Robert, you're welcome, it was fun to do.

 

 

 

 

THANKS BILL FOR THE INFO. I BOUGHT 2 BRIDGES NEW AND I DON'T THINK THEY WILL WORK WITH MY TRAINS.
THEY SURE ARE NICE BRIDGES.
THANKS AGAIN
MARSHALL

Date: Sun, 13 Apr 2014 14:48:41 -0700

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 

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.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

DO YOU HAVE A 2 TRACK OPERATION IN THE O GAUGE? IF SO, THE HUSKY STACKS MAKE IT THRU OK?
MARSHALL

Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2014 09:17:41 -0700

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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

Whoops,

 

Forgot to mention, If you  have a Premium Membership you can read the Hellgate#305 article on line in the December 2013 issue.

 

Ed Boyle

THANKS ED. YES I AM A PREMIUM MEMBER.
MARSHALL

Date: Fri, 27 Jun 2014 07:30:10 -0700

Sounds interesting... Looking forward to seeing these!  

 

David