Two Colber trestles and one Marx were required to bridge the gap. Requirements included 48" span and all metal construction (for obvious reasons).
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And you wonder what could go wrong? 
As long as it has a good stable structural beam, you should be good, I would run a Vision Line Big Boy or Challenger though.
It's plenty strong enough. I could put 5 or 6 Big Boys on it with no sag. My worry was originally the fire, but a test showed the bridge was barely warm to the touch. My real worry is when the wife figures out my intended empire expansion.
By all means, the first test should be with a $2,000 locomotive! 
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
By all means, the first test should be with a $2,000 locomotive!
LOL, I would use bricks to do the stress test.
Bill T.
Originally Posted by Bill T:
Originally Posted by gunrunnerjohn:
By all means, the first test should be with a $2,000 locomotive!
LOL, I would use bricks to do the stress test.
Bill T.
No, No, No... get the Menards track girl to stand on it!
I'd worry more about the Wife....
Originally Posted by Steamer:
I'd worry more about the Wife....
Yeah. Get her to stand on it! 
Better yet make sure you stop the train with plastic rolling stock right in front of the fire....
Guns,
That comment was great, Jim yours also. Give the guy credit for building well, not so much with the placement however!
PCRR/Dave
You could make it into the perfect Gomez Addams setup.
Very creative idea, I hope your wife is ok with it.
Originally Posted by mwb:
Originally Posted by Steamer:
I'd worry more about the Wife....
Yeah. Get her to stand on it!
What, me worry?
George
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Dave, I think the placement was sort of dictated by the room, probably not too many options.
I'm thinking of suspending a rotisserie under it for the Thanksgiving turkey. A E Newman rules 
All seriousness aside, this is like most of my layout planning. Not so much of a plan as an evolutionary design. The idea is to bridge the fireplace, and connect an existing layout with a new addition. I need to raise the bridge about 8 inches. It will have better visual appeal, and be more out of the line of fire (if you'll pardon the expression). I am still hopeful I can occasionally have a fire without turning my passenger coaches into a kiln. I'll be sure to get the blessing of my two firefighter kids before I do anything permanent.
I think it's cool coming in front of the fire. With a little landscaping, you can make that a huge forest fire along side the trains!
I think this is a novel idea, and hope that you never find out what could go wrong.
Update photos
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Love the bridge in front of the fireplace. Good luck with getting the expansion approval.
I'm a big fan of fireplace right of ways.
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Possibly the first in a short, scary chain of Cascading Anomalies:
"...bridge was barely warm to the touch."
Hmmm...
Perhaps fitting with the Yuletide season, fill some tinplate gondolas with chestnuts and run them out onto the bridge.
Perhaps fitting with the Yuletide season, fill some tinplate gondolas with chestnuts and run them out onto the bridge.
quote:I'll be sure to get the blessing of my two firefighter kids before I do anything permanent.
When there is a fire burning, the bridge is probably going to get rather warm. That might be OK, but I don't think I would leave anything parked on that bridge for any length of time.
Please let us know what your firefighter kids say.
Given that Murphy's Law may apply, I'd post Murphy's Gorge signs on each end of
the bridge.
Originally Posted by 027Ted:
No, No, No... get the Menards track girl to stand on it!
Menards' track girl ???
"Murphy's Gorge ..." LOL
Doubling down
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Better pic
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gunrunnerjohn posted:I think it's cool coming in front of the fire. With a little landscaping, you can make that a huge forest fire along side the trains!
Now, That's creative!
Your post's theme could be a line from Jurassic Park!
It would be a pain to duck under, but it might look better if the Marx bridge was placed UNDER the wood deck?
With the way you have it built you could do a raise level going thru the top section bridge
I Like the bridge and fire place, Just looking is that an Eagle, globe, and anchor flag atop of the bridge?
C.W. I did not mean to offend you. I have never heard of anyone who likes that era better than the quality trains we have available today. I am talking from first hand knowledge on MPC as I purchased most of it back in the day when I got back into the hobby. My biggest laugh was a B&O F-3 (single motor plastic gears) that would not pull 4 cars up a grade. The paint was good, what was under the hood was nothing to get excited over. I did like the scale cars
I've been active in the hobby since 1969, just before the beginning of the Modern era, so I guess I have some first hand knowledge too.
I guess you skip the threads where people write about their fondness for MPC stuff.
How close in the fire hydrant to your house!
Well, you could take advantage of the bridge and use a log dumping car to feed the fire. Kinda like a remote for the TV.
Impressive, but even with my very understanding wife, it would never fly here.....LOL
Finally finished the L
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Looks wonderful! Great looking layout! They USMC Flag really makes it for me!
