What Trestle works best with Atlas O 3 rail track

Prentice:

From 'lionel 110 series' I assume you mean trestle bents. I guess the answer is how high you want to go, what 'look you are after' and whether you are laying track underneath the elevated portion.

I doubt the grooves in the Lionel bents will accommodate Atlas O track due to the track ties so you would have to glue the track to the top of the bents. If you are looking for old school where track is sitting on the bents 'in mid-air' I think you should look at either Lionel Fastrack or MTH realtrax bents. You have a bunch of styles to choose from; solid or 'wood style bents

If you are looking for more of a modern hi-rail look to start at ground level and go up to 4 inches or more I think the best bet is Woodland Scenics inclines. Downside is you will need to cover them with something like plaster cloth, Sculptamold then ground cover.

Up past 5-6 inches if you plan on running track underneath then individual bents will be necessary. Unless you want the track hanging out in mid-air (as with the old style Lionel 110 series) then you need to look at trestle decks/grider or truss bridges to place the track on.

Hi joe

Thanks for repling back

I am building a modified D-190, old Lionel Layout i have some old Marx trestles that were modified but dont know if they will work with the atlas track without more modifications, i have never used trestles before so this is all new to me can i attach the track directly to the trestle or do i have to have something between the track and trestle to support the track so as you can see there will be track traveling under the elevated section in 2 spots. I am looking for a trestle that will work with the atlas track with minimal  modifications

Thanl you

Prentice

Hi @pphegena

Thought I'd chime in on this discussion. Lionel "bents" (aka trestles) are labeled A - L. A is the tallest at 4 3/4 inches from the bottom to the top of the bent. You will loose some height/clearance due to track height and roadbed height if you use any.

AFAIK, Lionel uses 3 methods for attaching their tubular track to the bents.

1. Tee nuts/screws and clamps:

2. "U" Clips and screws:

3. Plastic clips and screws:

There's an important point you should know about these track attachment methods. These methods not only attach the bents to the track. Because the bents are attached to track at track joints, they are also designed to hold the track sections together. Trains running on unsecured track tend to push the joints apart...instant derailment!

The most secure methods (and the ones I've had best luck with) are 1 and 2.

So, I'm guessing some experimentation may be in order to see if any of the attachment methods would work with Atlas track.

If you want, I can send you screw hole spacing dimensions. Then you could make a paper or cardboard template to see if any would work.

Just let me know.

Prentice - I will defer to Junior on this. He is more knowledgeable than me on the old style track bents.

When using Lionel trestles, I ignore the metal or plastic clips and just screw through a tie directly into the trestle top. A small pilot hole must be drilled into the trestle first.

I used the plastic clips for a gondola load.

See my 8/13/21 Blog post on my website for trestle, etc. suggestions. It is entitled Upper Lever Track Support Tips

@Lionelski posted:

When using Lionel trestles, I ignore the metal or plastic clips and just screw through a tie directly into the trestle top. A small pilot hole must be drilled into the trestle first.

I used the plastic clips for a gondola load.

See my 8/13/21 Blog post on my website for trestle, etc. suggestions. It is entitled Upper Lever Track Support Tips

@Junior posted:

Hi @pphegena

Thought I'd chime in on this discussion. Lionel "bents" (aka trestles) are labeled A - L. A is the tallest at 4 3/4 inches from the bottom to the top of the bent. You will loose some height/clearance due to track height and roadbed height if you use any.

AFAIK, Lionel uses 3 methods for attaching their tubular track to the bents.

1. Tee nuts/screws and clamps:

2. "U" Clips and screws:

3. Plastic clips and screws:

There's an important point you should know about these track attachment methods. These methods not only attach the bents to the track. Because the bents are attached to track at track joints, they are also designed to hold the track sections together. Trains running on unsecured track tend to push the joints apart...instant derailment!

The most secure methods (and the ones I've had best luck with) are 1 and 2.

So, I'm guessing some experimentation may be in order to see if any of the attachment methods would work with Atlas track.

If you want, I can send you screw hole spacing dimensions. Then you could make a paper or cardboard template to see if any would work.

Just let me know.

@pphegena posted:

Hi joe

Thanks for repling back

I am building a modified D-190, old Lionel Layout i have some old Marx trestles that were modified but dont know if they will work with the atlas track without more modifications, i have never used trestles before so this is all new to me can i attach the track directly to the trestle or do i have to have something between the track and trestle to support the track so as you can see there will be track traveling under the elevated section in 2 spots. I am looking for a trestle that will work with the atlas track with minimal  modifications

Thanl you

Prentice

I just received a set of Lionel Trestles that i found on ebay P/N 6-12754 they are the bgrown ones and came with the plastic clips, will the metal U clips work on these trestles or the tee nut style work with these because i am using atlas track

@Lionelski posted:

When using Lionel trestles, I ignore the metal or plastic clips and just screw through a tie directly into the trestle top. A small pilot hole must be drilled into the trestle first.

I used the plastic clips for a gondola load.

See my 8/13/21 Blog post on my website for trestle, etc. suggestions. It is entitled Upper Lever Track Support Tips

Hi

I just received a new set of Lionel 6-12754 brown  Trestle set i found on ebay it came with the plastic clips

on these trestles are the metal u clip and the tee nut style compatable with these trestles

I am using Atlas O 3 rail track

Regards

Prentice

I'll probably start a e-fist fight over this but ... I have two heavy trolleys (die cast) running on two separate lines.  One involves a spiral trestle and the other a single level elevated line.  It's all utilizing Atlas O, and ... wait for it ... is fixed to the trestles with double sided foam tape (two readers have just fallen off their chairs).  I can fill in more details, but suffice it to say they have been running like that for at least 10 years. Pics below.

pphegna posted: "There's an important point you should know about these track attachment methods. These methods not only attach the bents to the track. Because the bents are attached to track at track joints, they are also designed to hold the track sections together. Trains running on unsecured track tend to push the joints apart...instant derailment!"

The above can be an issue only if you don't attach the trestles down to the board as well as the track to the trestles and don't space the trestles more than one track length apart. This secures the track plenty solid.

I know from 30 year's experience with trestled track on the WarrenvilleRR

@Al H. posted:

I'll probably start a e-fist fight over this but ... I have two heavy trolleys (die cast) running on two separate lines.  One involves a spiral trestle and the other a single level elevated line.  It's all utilizing Atlas O, and ... wait for it ... is fixed to the trestles with double sided foam tape (two readers have just fallen off their chairs).  I can fill in more details, but suffice it to say they have been running like that for at least 10 years. Pics below.

Beautiful pic Al H

I can see this working, especially if you don't use the cheapie dollar store double sided tape that is usually dried out before you even remove it from the package. No fist fight here.

That Atlas track looks great

The track separation issue is real.  I have had sections that required securing them together to keep them from separating.  However, if the trestles are securely attached at the base, this is not usually a problem.  I'll caveat this with; my trolleys are as heavy as some locomotives, and I run them at near-prototypical speeds.  If you run a consist at high SMPH speeds, that could well cause the tracks to separate.

I have a machinist friend who likes to improve and re-engineer everything who made these clips out of solid brass for me. Being a bit anal, he also found small plastic boxes that fit them perfectly. By the way, he has only a casual interest in trains - he just thought that this upgrade was needed.

Sorry @pphegena ....

I was away running errands. One thing Lionel did do was use the old mold for casting the trestle bents. So yes, the T-nuts, the U-clips or the plastic clips would work fine across the newer or older Lionel trestles.

Have you come up with a way to secure the Atlas track to the trestle bents? Have you determined that one of the three methods Lionel provides will work with your Atlas track? Or have you developed a custom design on of your own?

Curious minds want to know!

@Lionelski!

That is some nice work your friend did! Those would surely outlast me!

Ya know @Al H......

That's not a bad idea. Not too long ago, I was looking for double-sided foam tape to stack one circuit board on top of another.  During those searches I came across several types of double-sided tape whose adhesive was said to have a very strong grip.

I didn't use these because they were too thin. I was afraid the pins poking out of the top circuit board would poke through the tape and short out on the circuit board below.

Anyway, double-sided tape would remove the need for @pphegena to drill holes in this track ties. It should do a pretty good job holding the track joints together too.

@Al H. posted:

I'll probably start a e-fist fight over this but ... I have two heavy trolleys (die cast) running on two separate lines.  One involves a spiral trestle and the other a single level elevated line.  It's all utilizing Atlas O, and ... wait for it ... is fixed to the trestles with double sided foam tape (two readers have just fallen off their chairs).  I can fill in more details, but suffice it to say they have been running like that for at least 10 years. Pics below.

AL H

What brand of Trestle do you use with the Atlas Track ?

Regards

Prentice

@Junior posted:

Sorry @pphegena ....

I was away running errands. One thing Lionel did do was use the old mold for casting the trestle bents. So yes, the T-nuts, the U-clips or the plastic clips would work fine across the newer or older Lionel trestles.

Have you come up with a way to secure the Atlas track to the trestle bents? Have you determined that one of the three methods Lionel provides will work with your Atlas track? Or have you developed a custom design on of your own?

Curious minds want to know!

Junior

I curently have 2 different trestle sets Marx and Lionel with the plastic clips, i took one of the lionel plastic clips and cut theends shorter so it fits into the atlas track, i dont have any of the other style lionel clips to try yet, so i dont know what ones will work best yet, i also  played around with the Marx trestle but it looks like they  will need a lot of work to use them see attached pic i made a plate to glue to the top like a platform that i can attach the track to any ideas on either one are welcome

Regards

Prentice

@pphegena posted:

AL H

What brand of Trestle do you use with the Atlas Track ?

Regards

Prentice

Al H

I guess you can make that 3 hah, i would have never thought that would work

Regards

Prentice

@pphegena

First, I didn't realize Atlas track sections lock together like they do. So I'm thinking you shouldn't have as much of an issue with track joints coming apart. I'm a Lionel tubular track guy so I have to ensure track joints stay tight (tubular track spreads after a while and looses it ability to keep joints tight.

Second, I'm wondering if you can use a variation of what @Lionelski friend made for him; but not from brass. Maybe there's some other material you can use (plastic? wood?). You would just have to make them long enough to bridge your track's screw holes and wide enough to fit tight into the trestle bent's slots.

Third, I'm not sure what you're trying to show with this pic....

Are the plastic joiners long enough to cover your track's holes?

I don’t know why Atlas just don’t duplicate  their HO trestles into Ogauge for their track. I always liked them and they worked well.

I use a variety of trestles on my layout.  As long as the supports (bents?) are sturdy, they all work pretty well.  The Atlas track system has the advantage of being self-locking (as does Fastrack and Real Trax).  Even so, I never leave a connection unsupported.  If done right, it's not much different than running on a flat table. Of course, the risk/reward ratio is a bit different  

@pphegena posted:

Hi

I just received a new set of Lionel 6-12754 brown  Trestle set i found on ebay it came with the plastic clips

on these trestles are the metal u clip and the tee nut style compatable with these trestles

I am using Atlas O 3 rail track

Regards

Prentice

Yes they are

@Junior posted:

Hi @pphegena

Thought I'd chime in on this discussion. Lionel "bents" (aka trestles) are labeled A - L. A is the tallest at 4 3/4 inches from the bottom to the top of the bent. You will loose some height/clearance due to track height and roadbed height if you use any.

AFAIK, Lionel uses 3 methods for attaching their tubular track to the bents.

1. Tee nuts/screws and clamps:

2. "U" Clips and screws:

3. Plastic clips and screws:

There's an important point you should know about these track attachment methods. These methods not only attach the bents to the track. Because the bents are attached to track at track joints, they are also designed to hold the track sections together. Trains running on unsecured track tend to push the joints apart...instant derailment!

The most secure methods (and the ones I've had best luck with) are 1 and 2.

So, I'm guessing some experimentation may be in order to see if any of the attachment methods would work with Atlas track.

If you want, I can send you screw hole spacing dimensions. Then you could make a paper or cardboard template to see if any would work.

Just let me know.

junior

I like those metal u clips, but i cant find them anywhere, so i might go back to the Marx trestles i have i made a small square plastic plarform that i can glue to the top of the trestle and then i can either drill and screw the track or try the double sided foam tape someone suggested the platform will give me more surface area to work with attaching the track, What do you think of that setup ?

Regards

Prentice

@pphegena

Let me see if I can find them. I'll post something either way.

@pphegena.....

This is what I found at Trainz.com. The Lionel part number is 110-29:

This is what I found at ttender.com:

There are probably more Lionel Parts vendors that have these as well. I first searched for "lionel parts for sale". Then I went into each web site and searched their parts list for 110-29.

BTW.....this part is a POST WAR part. Some parts vendors break their parts out by Current, Post War, etc.

Lemme know if you run into trouble. Oh....one last note. Pricing is all over the place so it pays to check out several vendors. Also note.....vendor responses might be a bit slow due to Covid.

Hope this helps.....

@pphegena

Sorry.....forgot to respond about your approach using Marx trestle. That looks like a good approach as well.

If you go that route (and I assume you're going to glue those platforms to the top of the trestles) use good super glue that has cyanoacrolate on the label. Some super glues do not contain cyanoacrolate and don't hold together nearly as well.

@Junior posted:

@pphegena

Sorry.....forgot to respond about your approach using Marx trestle. That looks like a good approach as well.

If you go that route (and I assume you're going to glue those platforms to the top of the trestles) use good super glue that has cyanoacrolate on the label. Some super glues do not contain cyanoacrolate and don't hold together nearly as well.

junior

I have this glue by testors it is plastic cement, will this glue be ok

Regards

Prentice

@pphegena

Looks like this cement (I looked on Testors website; its 3501 as on your tube of glue) is used for polystyrene (model airplanes, model cars, etc.) and ABS plastics. I don't know what plastic Marx used for making their trestles way back when. And I don't know what plastic you are using to make the platforms out of.

The only thing I can suggest is to try it on SCRAP pieces of plastic to see if it holds. You'll know right away if it doesn't work.

If you try this glue on your actual pieces and it doesn't hold, then you'll have the problem of removing the Testors glue from your good pieces before trying something else....not a great situation to be in.

@Junior posted:

@pphegena

Looks like this cement (I looked on Testors website; its 3501 as on your tube of glue) is used for polystyrene (model airplanes, model cars, etc.) and ABS plastics. I don't know what plastic Marx used for making their trestles way back when. And I don't know what plastic you are using to make the platforms out of.

The only thing I can suggest is to try it on SCRAP pieces of plastic to see if it holds. You'll know right away if it doesn't work.

If you try this glue on your actual pieces and it doesn't hold, then you'll have the problem of removing the Testors glue from your good pieces before trying something else....not a great situation to be in.

Hi

just an  update the testors plastic cement worked great i have them all finished

Lookin good @pphegena ! You should be good to go.