Trestle Strength

You should have no problems at all.  My trestle used 1/4" square poplar for the bent posts, with smaller bracing pieces.  It was all glued together using Elmer's Carpenters Wood Glue.  No nails or screws were used.  It will support my body weight.

Plastic clothespin-like clamps were used to hold braces while the glue dried.

That is quite a trestle!

How did you secure the track?

There are curved wooden stringers under the outside rails of the track.  After the trestle was complete, I drilled about every 4th tie slightly smaller than a #18 nail (drilled into the stringer as well) and then nailed the track.  The nails were pushed in using needle nose pliers since they are only slightly larger than the holes.

The entire story of building the trestle, with many photos, is on my website (link below my signature).  In the menu on the left of the main page, click on "Photos" then "Building Summit Trestle."

@Bob posted:

You should have no problems at all.  My trestle used 1/4" square poplar for the bent posts, with smaller bracing pieces.  It was all glued together using Elmer's Carpenters Wood Glue.  No nails or screws were used.  It will support my body weight.

Plastic clothespin-like clamps were used to hold braces while the glue dried.

Wow Bob!  That is impressive. 

George

I'm looking to scratch build (because I can't find anyone who makes them) steel trestles like these.

I have some AtlasO deck girder bridges ( #6923) I need to support with trestles if I can make them.

Would anyone know where I can get materials for the trestles?  I don't think wood materials will look right.

You mean like these from Ross Custom Switches?

@Bob posted:

You should have no problems at all.  My trestle used 1/4" square poplar for the bent posts, with smaller bracing pieces.  It was all glued together using Elmer's Carpenters Wood Glue.  No nails or screws were used.  It will support my body weight.

Plastic clothespin-like clamps were used to hold braces while the glue dried.

That is outstanding! Job well done!

Check out the shapes available from  Plastruct Catalog

Darrell,

yes, I saw late last night that Ross has them.

i am asking how to make them about 13” high.

@Darrell posted:

You mean like these from Ross Custom Switches?

Love this trestle. It looks a lot like the Kinzua Bridge tthat I hope to re-create one day. Hopefully it’ll still be available when I’m ready for it. 🤨

@VJandP posted:

Love this trestle. It looks a lot like the Kinzua Bridge tthat I hope to re-create one day. Hopefully it’ll still be available when I’m ready for it. 🤨

I've learned that in O-scale, with so many small and cottage businesses, you'd better buy something when you see it (even if you won't use it for a while).  For example, the kits to build these two bridges (5-foot on the left, 6-foot on the right) are from Miami Valley Products.  I bought the kits when I designed the layout.  They were finally built and installed (replacing temporary lift-out boards) about 10 years later.  Miami Valley Products had been gone for about 5 years by that time.

@Bob posted:

I've leaned that in O-scale, with so many small and cottage businesses, you'd better buy something when you see it (even if you won't use it for a while).  For example, the kits to build these two bridges (5-foot on the left, 6-foot on the right) are from Miami Valley Products.  I bought the kits when I designed the layout.  They were finally built and installed (replacing temporary lift-out boards) about 10 years later.  Miami Valley Products had been gone for about 5 years by that time.

You’re not wrong. This has been the case before. I would be OK ordering it and holding it for a while… Just need to figure out what the permanent layout looks like so I can lock in in the design.

BTW, Your labout looks awesome!

Eric from Eric's Trains (channel on Youtube) had the main trestle for his layout custom built.  He provides a good deal of information in a few of his videos including the name of the company that made it plus details on how he finished it etc.   

This is a great thread, your getting answers from the best, Bobs trestle is a stunning, jaw dropping view as your going down the steps to his Beautiful train room. Great picture Bob. Happy Railroading Everyone

Double wow, Bob, that trestle looks like the now out of service but existing spindly one on the Alaskan steam run. And "support my weight" answers my question!

@SteveG posted:

Darrell,

yes, I saw late last night that Ross has them.

i am asking how to make them about 13” high.

I'm not sure, but this is lifted off the Ross website:

Each Tier is 3" Tall. Start with Tier 1 and build in 3" increments to get up to 18" tall. Bridge piers fit all Tiers. Two styles, all same leg length and sloped. Sloped is for your bottom section only. (That sits on the ground)

Sounds like you should be able to get 12" easy, one more tier would get you 15". So you would just stack tier 1 thru 4 to get to 12" plus the footing.

This does get spendy though, these are not cheap by any means.

I’m asking them what I have to buy.

if it’s one each of tier 1,2,3,4 for one 12” tower, that’s way too expensive.

i will then find a way to scratch build.

i went to a local wood shop and bought 2 big pieces of basswood and ripped them myself.

I want a metal look.

maybe I can use basswood and just color them black.

also trying to figure what pieces to get if I use Evergreen or Plastruct.  So far I have some success looking at youtube videos.  In one, the guy tells you the Evergreen parts he used, but uses a 3D printer for the gusset plates.