New 5x9 Layout, purchased

Very nice. I bet that was a chore to move though. Looks heavy.

Jeff

Looks great!

Are you planning on leaving a walk space between the platform and the walls?

Looks like fun, congrats!

Fantastic! I like the track plan and am looking forward to seeing how you make it your own.

Very nice!

Peter

It is a very nice layout... a great find!

The seller knew a mover who handled the move from Naples, FL to Cape Coral, FL.  Cost was $300 for the move so not too bad.  Before it was moved, I mentioned to the seller that I would install casters when it arrived.  He was nice enough to go out an buy them himself and install them so it is easy to move the layout around when I need to work on it.

The lower level is interesting because the train can make several different loops through the crossovers and switches.  The only issue I have is that there really isn't much opportunity to do any switching of cars or operating accessories.

I do have to replace the bridges on the upper level since the train keeps hitting the sides on the one bridge and the plate girder bridge isn't really supported directly by the trestles.

Overall, it will keep me plenty busy making changes and improvements when I am in Florida.

That is a very nice layout.  It sounds like the seller is a great guy.  You were fortunate to find a nice layout and a fellow who was great to work with.  Congratulations!!

I've fixed some of the electrical glitches and started working on some scenery issues.  On the raised track, the plate girder and truss bridges have some issues.  There are probably too many sharp curves to handle the bridges themselves but maybe someone has ideas on fixes.

  The plate girder bridge is screwed to the FastTrack and not supported by the trestles.  The bridge is actually too short to span the distance.  Is there another bridge that is longer than this one?  It appears to be a pretty standard size classic Lionel plate girder bridge.

The short truss bridge is properly supported by the trestles.  However, there is a curve in the middle and before and after the bridge and the bridge is quite narrow.  As a small Hudson type loco makes it's way around the track, it tends to hit the sides of the bridge.  Does anyone have any ideas as to what would be better here?  Maybe no bridge at all or maybe a plate girder bridge here?

Thanks for any ideas and help.

Very nice layout and cooperative seller.

Maybe the builder was making the elevated track an L for street cars.

You can add an inch or so to the widths of those bridges or buy wider ones.  The railroad road way inspector may shut them down until it is fixed!

Have fun getting it set up to your needs and enjoy the trains a running.

Charlie

Nice layout. We don't see too many reverse curves on the prototype and would not expect to see one on a bridge. The longer locomotives will hit the sides of these bridges all the time with the reverse curves. A scratch built bridge could be considered. Modifying the standard Lionel thru girder bridges just requires a wider floor but your bridge is too short as well which would require adding to the girder portion. Its hard to get this to look correct but it can be done. Widening the truss bridge is very difficult to get a correct appearance due to the angle of the cross bracing. Perhaps the easiest and less expensive solution would be to scratch build two thru girder bridges wide enough to clear a longer locomotive. 

@lionelflyer  You might want to consider making plate girder bridges out of cardstock. You can make them as long as you need. You would have to be a bit creative to build them to a curve, but not all that difficult.  Link below.  They often appear on my layout photos as well.     

Just do not use laser printing, stick to ink jet. CA cannot penetrate the laser ink so you end up with a weak bond. Also color the edges prior to glueing, hard to get anything to stick to the CA coated edges.

https://ogrforum.com/...1#149239177002894301

Congratulations on your new layout. It looks like a lot of fun.

Thanks all for the suggestions.  I will look in to creating a cardstock plate girder bridge but first have to get an inkjet printer.  While reading through the post on the cardstock bridge, I did see mention of using it as a deck bridge and that might be a solution also.  No sides so nothing to hit!

Nice score.      Enjoy.

That's a beautiful layout...I am jealous...enjoy! :-)

@lionelflyer posted:

I've fixed some of the electrical glitches and started working on some scenery issues.  On the raised track, the plate girder and truss bridges have some issues.  There are probably too many sharp curves to handle the bridges themselves but maybe someone has ideas on fixes.

  The plate girder bridge is screwed to the FastTrack and not supported by the trestles.  The bridge is actually too short to span the distance.  Is there another bridge that is longer than this one?  It appears to be a pretty standard size classic Lionel plate girder bridge.

The short truss bridge is properly supported by the trestles.  However, there is a curve in the middle and before and after the bridge and the bridge is quite narrow.  As a small Hudson type loco makes it's way around the track, it tends to hit the sides of the bridge.  Does anyone have any ideas as to what would be better here?  Maybe no bridge at all or maybe a plate girder bridge here?

Thanks for any ideas and help.

lionelflyer,

I'd cut the bridge in half lengthwise an widen it. Maybe once the base of it is cut, you will be able to bend it into a curve and add a piece in the center. The structure looks to be plastic so that might be do-able.

You may also want to try something like what I did here:  Avoiding the "Floating Track" Look (warrenvillerailroad.com) as an alternative