Thanks everyone. There are 8 more girder assemblies to build to complete the span, and I've got 4 done so far. I should have the span in place in less than a week. This is a fun project.
Thus completes the 13 girder spine assembly. Now it's time to sand it smooth, temporarily hang it in place, check the track curve, and then glue down the track. After that, I'll frame in the bents under the spine.
Thanks Mike. Here, I'm having some fun checking the spine on the layout to make sure it looks right and matches the existing curve. A southbound Amtrak glides through while a northbound mixed freight holds in the SLO station, then proceeds up the pass: I was able to run the trains over it and it looked fine to my eye. I'm really liking the look of the layout now.
Wow - that's really looking good. Nice gentle curve - very prototypical looking. Those 'going away shots' are great - just think what it's gonna look like when you get the bridge finished!
Thanks. I just want to move out of my apartment now so I can have more space to really do justice to the rest of the layout. I need more room! *edit* I must seem unemotional, huh? I'm an engineering student who is 90% German, it's just the genes I guess.
Jeff, Looking good what about railings across the bridge or a place for workers to stand clear when trains are approaching
It'll take some work, but there is room in the bridge track to insert cross pieces between the ties, in order to make a walkway / handrail structure around the track. I'm not sure if the real Stennar bridge had any platforms. It might have just had wider than normal walkways by the track.
It's bent time! The bridge appears to have the same character as the Stennar viaduct: long and low. I've been using a little more than the top 1/4 of each of the supplied ME bents. I've only got 3 bents on now, but there will be one under each girder joint, for a total of 13. Oh yeah.
Jeff, That looks fantastic and once all the bents are on it will look quite specatacular. I'm just wondering I hope you dont ever have a derailment on the bridge though it lookslike the rollingstock would have quite a fall.
Yeah I've already broke one of the truck tabs off my SP Kato SD45 from it falling off the layout after I bumped into it with my head (the couch is under there). I do have plans to build the little fence around the bridge that can be seen on this pic of the Stennar viaduct: It might not catch a loco that gets knocked over by hand, but it should keep derailed items from taking a dive.
Thanks for the warm reception everyone. Here are 8 of 12 bents installed. The remaining 4 will be scratch built.
Remember when it was a stack of foam slabs? Heh. It's still an experiment to me. There isn't a master plan.
Looking good FD! Your proto picture shows that the bents are constructed as boxes - are you going to add longitudinal supports between your bents ? I'm paying close attention, because I want to replace the concrete supports on my high bridge w/ girder bents also! It's in an area where my scenery is already in, so I've been avoiding it, but you are inspiring me!
