Ross Bridges

I've had good luck with this Atlas bridge approach.  Short curve on the inside is O 54 and long side is O 63  All track is Atlas and the Pratt Truss Bridge is also Atlas.

What are you planing to run?

Scale-sized articulated steam locomotives are the problem as the boiler front hangs outside the curve. On an O-72 curve, that can be around 2 3/4 inches outside the track centerline. If the bridge structure is beyond that it will probably clear; if not, the boiler could clip the bridge structure. You're usually better off approaching a bridge from a straight or a very broad curve.

If you're running "normal" steam and diesel, you probably won't have problems. You definitely won't have a problem with an SD60 diesel. From your description, that's the old Premier SD60 tooling that migrated into the Rail King Scale line, so even Premier diesels should be OK.

Thanks for the replies.

While I like the big, 3 axle, diesels, I don’t have enough real-estate so I’ll stick to GP’s in future.

Diesels should not be a problem. As Matt said, articulated engines might be a problem on the outside track, and 18" and over cars on the inside loop could be a problem.

I require 10" of straight on each end outside the length of the bridge.

But that is because I run a Big Boy, and it will eat a bridge otherwise.

Diesels should be fine with any curve above O-36 outside the length of the bridge.

generally about 8" should do the trick and the more straight track leading into the bridge the better, It all depends upon what you run and the bigger articulated engines and long passenger cars will be more lead track to eliminate any overhang

Have fun with your project

Steve