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Hi here is a module I had built for our Club it is 8ft long by 2ft high viaduct bridge.

it was all hand carved it took about 2 months of work on the stone. 6 months total.

I wanted something that we see here in the north east. 

Here are some pic of the build as well.

 

 

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Mark's bridge the Kinzua viaduct is my favorite probably because it's the only bridge I was ever across that collapsed.  The train would cross the viaduct and then the Steam engine was turned on a "Y"  Passengers were allowed off the cars and could walk the viaduct if they wanted.  Unfortunately 1992 was before digital camera for me.  It would take some time to find those picture.
My wife and I did the ride one fall Saturday 1992.
A return trip 2004.

You can see the path and force of the tornado that caused it to fall. First picture to the right.  The State of PA was in the process of  re-doing foundations so that this would not happen at the time.  There was a contractor on site.   I believe it's still a State Park today.   Kinzua Bridge State Park.

Last edited by Mike CT

My favorite railroad bridge is the former PRR Panhandle bridge across the Ohio River between Steubenville, OH and Weirton, WV.  It's located at milepost 42.11 and was erected in 1927.  It is the 3rd bridge on the site and was immortalized by Grif Teller.  The painting, "Crossroads of Commerce", hangs in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.  The image appeared on the Pennsy's 1953 calendar.

 

First the painting.

 

Crossroads of Commerce 1953

 

Now the prototype.  I took this photo around 2005.

 

 

IMG24

 

And finally the model, which I hope to procure at Fall York.

 

 

Stubenville 2 Track 84 Inch [14)

 

George

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Originally Posted by Putnam Division:

Here's the one in Poughkeepsie.....

 

 

 

Here's the new website.....I hope to get there someday.....

 

http://nysparks.com/parks/178/details.aspx

 

Peter

 

 You can access this bridge as the Walkway over the Hudson.   On a rainy day I rode my bike across the bridge, (more than once to get the milage for the day)

View down river.  Note that the Hudson River,  even here, is subject to tides.  Native Americans said that the river flowed backwards.

Down river from the bridge.

 

Last edited by Mike CT
Originally Posted by Putnam Division:

Mike.......I hope to get to the the Poughkeepsie bridge someday.

George......I looking forward to layout pics when you get that bridge installed.

 

Peter

Interesting notes on the Walkway.  There is something like 60,000 LED lights, small tubes installed under the hand rail.  The project was ??? 26 million ???  WOW!!!!  Some say it's best to access the walkway from the Highland side of the river.

 

Last edited by Mike CT
Originally Posted by Penn-Pacific:

My favorite bridge is the P&LE bridge over the ohio river. Its near the town I grew up in where I used to sit and watch P&LE trains roll through it all the time. CSX trains roll over it now.

 

Interesting notes about this bridge.  Built 1908.  Still being used for mainline traffic CSX.  A similar cantilever truss bridge collapsed during construction over the Saint Lawrence River the same time this bridge was being build.

 

Monaca, Pa. right side of picture.  Beaver/Bridgewater, PA left side of river. Middle of picture is where the Beaver River enters the Ohio.  May be the most northern point of the Ohio River. Community pictured, center right, Rochester PA.  The Blue bridge, Rochester/Monaca, has been replaced in recent history after a similar bridge failed.

Last edited by Mike CT
Originally Posted by Mike CT:

Interesting notes about this bridge.  Built 1908.  Still being used for mainline traffic CSX.  A similar cantilever truss bridge collapsed during construction over the Saint Lawrence River the same time this bridge was being build.

 

Actually, the 1908 bridge collapsed during a flood, and thats when the P&LE decided to have one built, as it was rumored, "to last 100 years". It was completed in 1911 and just celebrated it's centennial year in 2011. Guess the P&LE got their moneys worth.

 

 

 

correction: The previous bridge that collapsed was built in 1878. Construction began on the current bridge in 1908

 

 

 

Last edited by Penn-Pacific

All these bridge posts by bridge-loving forum members. Does this mean we're all really Trolls?

 

Here's another one I like. It used to have Pacific Electric streetcar tracks in addition to the highway use. I was thinking that by its design to allow trains to pass underneath with the Los Angeles river in between, it would be a great background view block to hide a turn-around on a layout.

 

Macy_Street_Bridge_1

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Originally Posted by Penn-Pacific:
Originally Posted by Mike CT:

Interesting notes about this bridge.  Built 1908.  Still being used for mainline traffic CSX.  A similar cantilever truss bridge collapsed during construction over the Saint Lawrence River the same time this bridge was being build.

 

Actually, the 1908 bridge collapsed during a flood, and thats when the P&LE decided to have one built, as it was rumored, "to last 100 years". It was completed in 1911 and just celebrated it's centennial year in 2011. Guess the P&LE got their moneys worth.

 

 

 

correction: The previous bridge that collapsed was built in 1878. Construction began on the current bridge in 1908

 

 

Interesting to note that a lot of bridges have a history of being up-graded. The Kinzua Viaduct, pictured above, quickly, was taken down and replaced.  Cast iron to steel.  Even Cast steel bridges were upgraded to steel.   Same applied to the Beaver bridge pictured above.

On the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail.  Pittsburgh to Cumberland Maryland. This Bowman bridge, moved and installed, on the trail may be one of the last Cast steel bridges. 

There was usually a builders plate attached to a bridge.  There is an interesting story about the builders plate for this bridge being stolen.

2006 picture of the Bridge after CSX had removed it from over the double main lines near Myersdale, PA. 

 

Bridge engineering late 1800's, early 1900's was all done with pencil and paper. Usually safety factors were well in excess of expected load.  Still a 100 year old bridge would be like the 100 year old pipe that ruptured recently in Los Angeles. IMO at some point we have to take a close look at our aging infrastructure.  

 

Last edited by Mike CT
Originally Posted by G3750:

My favorite railroad bridge is the former PRR Panhandle bridge across the Ohio River between Steubenville, OH and Weirton, WV.  It's located at milepost 42.11 and was erected in 1927.  It is the 3rd bridge on the site and was immortalized by Grif Teller.  The painting, "Crossroads of Commerce", hangs in the Railroad Museum of Pennsylvania.  The image appeared on the Pennsy's 1953 calendar.

 

First the painting.

 

 

 

Now the prototype.  I took this photo around 2005.

 

 

 

 

And finally the model, which I hope to procure at Fall York.

 

 

Stubenville 2 Track 84 Inch [14)

 

George

George,

Another great bridge from the tri-state area!  Super model!!

Originally Posted by Mike CT:
Originally Posted by Penn-Pacific:
Originally Posted by Mike CT:

Interesting notes about this bridge.  Built 1908.  Still being used for mainline traffic CSX.  A similar cantilever truss bridge collapsed during construction over the Saint Lawrence River the same time this bridge was being build.

 

Actually, the 1908 bridge collapsed during a flood, and thats when the P&LE decided to have one built, as it was rumored, "to last 100 years". It was completed in 1911 and just celebrated it's centennial year in 2011. Guess the P&LE got their moneys worth.

 

 

 

correction: The previous bridge that collapsed was built in 1878. Construction began on the current bridge in 1908

 

 

Interesting to note that a lot of bridges have a history of being up-graded. The Kinzua Viaduct, pictured above, quickly, was taken down and replaced.  Cast iron to steel.  Even Cast steel bridges were upgraded to steel.   Same applied to the Beaver bridge pictured above.

On the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail.  Pittsburgh to Cumberland Maryland. This Bowman bridge, moved and installed, on the trail may be one of the last Cast steel bridges. 

There was usually a builders plate attached to a bridge.  There is an interesting story about the builders plate for this bridge being stolen.

2006 picture of the Bridge after CSX had removed it from over the double main lines near Myersdale, PA. 

 

 

Bridge engineering late 1800's, early 1900's was all done with pencil and paper. Usually safety factors were well in excess of expected load.  Still a 100 year old bridge would be like the 100 year old pipe that ruptured recently in Los Angeles. IMO at some point we have to take a close look at our aging infrastructure.  

 

Excellent comments, Mike.

This bridge reminds me of the old bridge across Tionesta Creek at the Kelletville swimming hole in Forest County.  We spent a lot of time there as kids in the '60s to early '70s.

Originally Posted by Mike CT:

Mark's bridge the Kinzua viaduct is my favorite probably because it's the only bridge I was ever across that collapsed.  The train would cross the viaduct and then the Steam engine was turned on a "Y"  Passengers were allowed off the cars and could walk the viaduct if they wanted.  Unfortunately 1992 was before digital camera for me.  It would take some time to find those picture.
My wife and I did the ride one fall Saturday 1992.
A return trip 2004.

You can see the path and force of the tornado that caused it to fall. First picture to the right.  The State of PA was in the process of  re-doing foundations so that this would not happen at the time.  There was a contractor on site.   I believe it's still a State Park today.   Kinzua Bridge State Park.

Mike, I was across it on train and on foot.  I have some old 35 mm slides I took in the early '80s I took that I need to get digitized.  Actually I have thirteen 144 slide carosels, so I have some selecting to do.

 

Anyway, I have one taken down under the bridge looking through the trestles to the other end, with my friends sitting on a crossbeam about 5 feet off the ground.

 

Thank you for the extra information and photos!!!

 

Originally Posted by hah3:

Hi here is a module I had built for our Club it is 8ft long by 2ft high viaduct bridge.

it was all hand carved it took about 2 months of work on the stone. 6 months total.

I wanted something that we see here in the north east. 

Here are some pic of the build as well.

 

I remember some of these photos.  An excellent job and an inspiration to me!!!

Originally Posted by Putnam Division:

Last week I posted these pics on Photo Fun. I love this set.....but, what I really love is the setting.  The railroad bridge on Gilly@N&W's module of our modular group.   http://www.rivercity3railers.org/

 

 

 

 

IMG_0770

 

 

This model is based on a really neat bridge on the B&O south of Baltimore MD. I believe it goes over the Patapsco River.

 

Peter

Just disappointing that for the second year in a row, this did not "make the cut" to be displayed at the Fair.

 

Gilly

This is such a great topic!  Being someone who has a slight phobia of bridges (Gephyrophobia) I can appreciate them better on a layout.  My little 4x8 layout is not big enough for a bridge.  One day would love to expand and have a bridge interlock the main layout and the expansion of a new smaller layout.  These are such great pictures.  Lots of ideas flowing.  And no fear when dealing with o-scale!

On my layout, my favorite bridge turned out differently than what I had planned. Here it is standing parallel to two Lionel toy bridges, which was my intent, to contrast them and to make both statements - the scale model and the toy model - on the same real estate. I had intended having Stainless Unlimited, which made the scale bridge (along with 6 others) for me, paint it; then, I'd weather it. However, when my wife took first sight of it coming out of its shipping carton, she exclaimed, "Wow, that looks so real!" And she asked me to keep it as it was. That settled the question - I was going to keep the scale bridge its shiny, "natural," stainless-self.

IMG_2062

fav bridge

IMG_2057x

...looking from the west toward the bridge ensemble...

fav bridge west aspect

Can you see the American Flyer bridge (green) in the distance, in the above photo? It's another nod of mine, on the layout, to our toy train roots...

FrankM

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  • fav bridge
  • IMG_2057x
  • fav bridge west aspect
Last edited by Moonson

The St. Croix High Bridge, aka the Arcola Bridge, which crosses the St. Croix River from Minnesota to Wisconsin just east of the Twin Cities (and is on the National Register of Historical Places). Formerly used by the Soo Line, and now used by the Canadian National. (Had to put this in - it's near where I was born and raised, so have to put in a plug! 

 

 

Last edited by breezinup
Originally Posted by Moonson:

On my layout, my favorite bridge turned out differently than what I had planned. Here it is standing parallel to two Lionel toy bridges, which was my intent, to contrast them and to make both statements - the scale model and the toy model - on the same real estate. I had intended having Stainless Unlimited, which made the scale bridge (along with 6 others) for me, paint it; then, I'd weather it. However, when my wife took first sight of it coming out of its shipping carton, she exclaimed, "Wow, that looks so real!" And she asked me to keep it as it was. That settled the question - I was going to keep the scale bridge its shiny, "natural," stainless-self.

IMG_2062

fav bridge

IMG_2057x

...looking from the west toward the bridge ensemble...

fav bridge west aspect

Can you see the American Flyer bridge (green) in the distance, in the above photo? It's another nod of mine, on the layout, to our toy train roots...

FrankM

Frank, Very nice scene with bridges.

Originally Posted by breezinup:

The St. Croix High Bridge, aka the Arcola Bridge, which crosses the St. Croix River from Minnesota to Wisconsin just east of the Twin Cities (and is on the National Register of Historical Places). Formerly used by the Soo Line, and now used by the Canadian National. (Had to put this in - it's near where I was born and raised, so have to put in a plug! &nbsp

 

 

 

 

 

 

Very interesting bridge!

It would be fitting to mention the famous Kate Shelley High Bridge as well, near Boone, Iowa, crossing the Des Moines River valley. Quite a great story about Kate Shelley. I rode across the bridge a number of years ago, behind the Chinese-made 2-8-2 steam engine of the Boone & Scenic Valley Railroad.

 

The UP (which took over the line from the CNW) built a new bridge (not as interesting, IMHO) which opened in 2009. The old bridge, completed in 1901, remains in place (the UP did an inspection and repair of it starting in 2001), but has a 25 mph slow order in place on it. The new bridge handles two trains simultaneously at 70 mph.

 

 

Opening of the new bridge - UP had CNW units present leading the UP passenger cars.

Last edited by breezinup
Hi Mark.
 I use tempered hardboard for most all of the EL product line. What you see in the photo is the natural look unpainted.
 
thanks.
 
jim r
Originally Posted by Mark Boyce:
Originally Posted by Bridgeboss Jim:

Here is another favorite from one of my customers in Denver.

 

IMGP1159

Jim,

That is really cool.  What material is the El sections made of?

 

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