Skip to main content

I bought a Atlas single track truss bridge a number of years ago knowing we were going to move and I would use it on a new layout. Saw a picture of one assembled on E-bay with Atlas track. Suddenly thought, will it work with Gargraves? Anyone know. I haven't unpacked most of my boxes and have no idea what box it's in or I would look at the kit instructions. Thanks Don

$T2eC16d,!)!E9s2fDIO6BRU37pY2Ww~~60_57

Attachments

Images (1)
  • $T2eC16d,!)!E9s2fDIO6BRU37pY2Ww~~60_57
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

I have Gargrave on my double track Atlas bridge and it works fine.

By the way the detail on this bridge is great and the steel support bars under the track are more then strong enough to carry any enigine. My only caution is that some of the parts can be very delicate. In another words a heavy engine could go right through them should it leave the track at high speed so be careful if you place it coming out of a turn.

Don,

    Remove the Atlas track from the bridge, it is easy to do by unscrewing the little screws from underneath the bridge in those metal L shape brackets.  The gargraves track can secured to the bridge by using the same screws that held the Atlas track deck.  Drill small pilot holes into gargraves ties that are over the L brackets.  I think the gargraves track looks better on the bridge than does the Atlas track deck.  I hope the following pictures will encourage you to make the change. No transition pins needed, only gargraves pins will will be needed.

 

 

 

IMG_5361

 

IMG_5362

 

IMG_5363

 

IMG_5364

 

IMG_5368

 

IMG_5369

 

IMG_5372

 

IMG_5373

 

IMG_5365

 

IMG_5366

 

IMG_5367

Attachments

Images (11)
  • IMG_5361
  • IMG_5362
  • IMG_5363
  • IMG_5364
  • IMG_5368
  • IMG_5369
  • IMG_5372
  • IMG_5373
  • IMG_5365
  • IMG_5366
  • IMG_5367

Don

 

Since Atlas designed their track system to match Gargraves tie and rail dimensions it will be easy to just use the Atlas to Gargraves pins and keep the atlas deck.  With a little weathering the Atlas bridge deck can look very nice.  The same goes for the Atlas Pratt truss bridge itself, hit it with flat black and light weathering and it looks great.

 

Dave redecked this Atlas bridge with scale wood ties and ScalTrax rail.  The weathering helps the detail stand out.

 

 

The Atlas bridges look good in silver too. 

 

 

 

 

My double track bridge is removable.  I used a plug-in wiring method that would work with most any layout, just a matter of wiring the bridge tracks to under layout wiring. The Atlas to Gargaves joiners never impressed me.






I did this match-up Atlas to Atlas, Gargrave or Ross is about the same profile.

Don,

Ginny and I are down in Grand Cayman and I just saw this post.

These darn stingrays . . . . "Get away"

Anyhow, Gargraves will be fine on the Atlas O bridges.

"I said get away !"

Darn stingrays

Take the track out of the deck platforms, file down the plastic pieces that hold the track and glue Gargraves onto the deck. Your trackwork will look much better if you leave the Atlas deck plates in place. That's what I did with our Atlas 2 rail decks. I made them 3 rail.

 

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, did you mean mating Gargraves to Atlas O?

Piece a cake.

 

"Get away"

 

So many fish   .  .   .   so little time

 

Eliot

Don:  Just now happened to see your posting.  I have about 7 or 8 Atlas bridges on my layout from a single track truss, a double track truss, 5 deck girder bridges, and, most recently, their through girder bridge with one extension to make it a double track bridge, also.  In each case, I preferred not to take up the Atlas track but try to mate it with Gargraves that is used over the rest of the layout.  

 

I first tried to use the rail joiners that Atlas supplies to mate with Gargraves, but they are so delicate and breakable that they just don't work.  I think I broke a half a dozen, just trying to install them, getting madder by the minute as they just wouldn't work.  Really a "Mickey Mouse" attempt at rail connection.

 

Finally, I did what Mike suggested on all of the bridges; I simply took a Dremel with a cut-off wheel and sliced off the lower web of the Gargraves track for about 3/8" and slipped a standard Atlas rail joiner or "fishplate" in to hold the two different track sections.  Worked just fine and I've had several of these in place for four or five years and they still work perfectly.  i even have had to remove a couple of the bridges for some late changes in the track and they still went back together perfectly.

 

It was the way to go, in my opinion.

 

Paul Fischer

Susan--

Thanks for your detailed reply on putting together the "duck-under" design on the double-track Atlas bridge. That gas-charged spring-loaded piece looks like ones that would be used on a car lift gate or hood?? The reinforcement and other parts deserve greater exposure in an O Gauge Magazine section in the future. This will defintely "save my back" in getting in and out of a re-design for my layout I am planning now.

Thanks again---

Regards,

 

Carl J

Originally Posted by scale rail:

Anyone know how long it took you to build these bridges? Don

The single and double Atlas Truss bridges were incorporated in my RR Track software as the track was designed.  My husband very graciously designed (with his drafting software) and built my tables (on the condition that I paint my tabletops).  As he designed the tables he incorporated the single and double track Atlas bridges.  He then designed the hinges and use of the gas springs.  He's a retired aerospace engineer and has a machine shop out back.

 

The bridge construction, after planning, probably only took a two or three days. 

Post

OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Ste 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

×
×
×
×
Link copied to your clipboard.
×
×