Standard Gauge Elevated Trestle

I don't recall seeing anything for standard gauge. It would have to be fairly hefty to support a big standard gauge engine. The only thing I can think of is something may have been made for European 1 gauge. I see in your profile your USN retired chief petty officer. My son is serving as a Master at arms petty officer 3rd class in Bahrain. "Thank your for your service"

First Chris, thank you for the kind words.  Please pass the same on to your son.  Its this time of year, especially with him being deployed, that the saying "Thank you for your service" means alot.

As for the trestle, I agree, it would have to be kind of hefty to hold up a 385 or the like, but I've got some standard electric type Ives engines that are alot lighter than some of my O Gauge RailKing types.  I just thought that by chance there may have been something made for standard.  I was more interested in the elevated trestles than the graduated set.  I think Bridgeboss or trainworx makes some pretty good size elevated trestles.  I was just unsure if Lionel had in the past.  Thanks.

A smaller electric like a No:8,10 or a 318 would be much better suited for an elevated line.  Here is a link to Silk city bridges. I'm sure they can make something up that would do the job.

http://www.njhirailers.com/sil...idges_menu_page.html

The New Marx folks made a trestle set that was adjustable in width. If mounted on a block of wood painted gray to simulate a concrete pedestal, they would work. You would just run a single std  rail over them instead of the double O shown in the photo. Finding them is the challenge. If interested, let me know and I will contact a friend back in Pennsylvania and see if he can still get them. I hear they are pricey, but do not know the cost.

Steve

That's a great idea! Learn something new everyday! Those could be made fairly easy from flat stock and the bends put in the right places. It may not cost that much to have a metal fab guy make them up to those specs or your own depending on your needs.

Watch this video for his elevated section supports. Many ways to build your own.

Had to gain some space on my O-Gauge layout for my new Standard Gauge acquisition, so here's my solution:

Link here

Old King Coal / railsrock

Old King Coal

What did you do to make the ties blend with the trestle?

Jim:

The roadbed top, wainscotting sides and tie ends were stained at the same time.  Most of the lower trestles were stained individually before being attached to the roadbed. 

The elevated roadbed is made from 1/2" MDF board with the wood ties matching the profile of the metal tie and keeps the metal from collapsing when screwed into place.

OKC 

Thanks Bob (Shipmate!) and to all the others who've responded.  I plan on doing the York thing this year, seems like I've been on travel each time since I've joined and haven't been able to make a full event yet. 

I've been looking at TX Trainworx elevated double trestles, but I may hold off for now to see what else I can find.  Those metal trestles look pretty good, and Old King Coal has a beautiful setup going on.  We'll see.  It all boils down to the cash flow when its time to move forward.

Joe,

The Steeltoys EL that Navy.Seal brought up, is really cool. But like Bob mentioned, Pat Fusco is no longer making the system. If you ever see some you should pick it up (if nothing else, a few of us on the forum would like it!). I have included a few pictures of the Steeltoys system. Far better constructed and detailed than any other system I've seen, but still holds that tinplate charm.

ARNO

Thanks for those pictures, that is a sharp looking setup.  Its a shame that they're not available anymore, I would have jumped on those in a heartbeat.  Guess I'm adding another item to the treasure hunt list.

Arno,

Do you have the Steeltoys (Steel Toys?) EL on your home layout?  If you do, pictures please!

Bob

PS.  What is going to be the publication date for your book on Modern Era Standard Gauge?  If you wait too much longer to publish, all the remaining "modern era" manufacturers will have gone out of business like Steel Toys did!  IMHO your book could certainly help generate renewed interest in and greater sales of Standard Gauge trains, track and accessories that in turn would help keep the few remaining Standard Gauge manufacturers in business!  Please publish your book ASAP, i.e. NOW!  :-)

A thought.... fabricate your own trestles and bridges out of Erector set pieces. One would have to search for the pieces if they are not in hand, but most individual pieces are not costly.

Bob

That looks great! Nice job!

Found some other pictures of the Steeltoys El set up. Enjoy.

ARNO

I am new to standard gauge trains and I think I have the bug. Anyway I too have been experimenting with an EL and came up with a tin plate look at a reasonable  cost. It uses Lionel #395 floodlight tower braces, they are 10.5 inches tall without the lights. I search the "junk" boxes for such towers, They make for a strong base/support.  Now to connect them I went to a home ctr. and bought a bottom track/channel for steel studs and screwed it to the tower. the channel is wide enough to run standard gauge track in, or you can flip it and screw the track to the bottom. I will search for a photo or two to share. I also decorated it by adding some tile border to the bottom edges to make it look like truss work. Only problem is I have not figured out curves. Hope this helps, I think its a big bang for the buck and it looks very tin plate. Good luck.

Here are a few photos of the beginning stages or idea of an EL that I am working on/designing. I still have not figured out the curves. It will work with the pay as you enter trolley (size wise). I 99% sure it would work with larger engines if you were to put some kind of padding under the track to raise it a fraction of an inch. The truss work is the tile boarder/end strip screwed on from the underside and by using the Lionel towers it gives you a tin plate look. This is all in the experimental stage and I do believe with a little more tinkering it will become something cool.

Jim,

Wow!  Most impressive EL system and with graduated trestles/ramps too!  I checked out your EL website.  Neat!

http://bridgeboss.com/price7el.html

Bob

Here's another alternative for Standard Gauge elevated towers - evidently Jim Cohen made replicas of Lionel 2-7/8 elevated supports.  They are cast iron or diecast.  How many of them are out there, I don't know, but it's an idea...

It will be interesting to see what those go for. I suspect the answer will be "A lot of money."