I'm about to start work on my first major scratch-build project and could use some advice. I want to build a curved trestle, 18" radius, about 42" long on an incline of 2.5 degrees. It will only be about 4" high (29 scale feet) at its highest point, so I'm thinking of using round posts (piles) as opposed to frame bents. I'm using standard Atlas Code 100 track, so I think it will look best if I use balasted deck construction as opposed to open deck. I have a copy of Kalmback's "Bridges & Trestles" book and it's pretty informative, but leaves a few questions unanswered. Any general suggestions, tips, experiences? Any ideas on what to use for the balast? Suggestions on how to build the deck, especially given the curve? Anybody know how they built real curved trestles - is it a series of straight sections or do they actually bend the horizontal timbers? Thanks, Dan
It is a lot easier to build for HO than for the real thing. If you just want to know how the real thing was done, email me and I can attach some info out of an old handbook. I don't know where you could find the HO sized crew to hire as workers to build it though! (They did not bend wood.)
Hi Dan, Made mine which is in H0 and is 9' long on a curve plus a 5% grade also. If I can help, I have jigs I printed out for making such a trestle. Paul
Hi Paul - Administrator, Took me about two weeks to construct. Built most of the top and main bents in situ, then took it away and finsihed it. All in all, I would say 30 hours work. Paul
<font color="336633">When I get round to building a layout I would like a trestle, proberly a streight one, but until I know how much space I will have I cant plan anything Very nice Trestle Paul, only one problem though, I wont be happy with mine (when its built) until it looks as good as yours.</font>
You'll have to give up that idea Sticky, no body makes trestles that good , unless you have Paul make it for you maybe! [ February 24, 2005, 04:49 PM: Message edited by: watash ]
That's a beautiful piece of work, Paul. How did you create the deck - did you bend the outside stringers or did you use a series of short straight sections?
Hi dcobb The main top deck was cut out of 1/8" plywood all in one go after first making a card template. Then I fastened the top end to the top baseboard and did the same at the middle section, and prayed that the grade of 5% wasn't going to be too steep. So I soldered some track together and lightly glued it on the top and made a couple of bents out ply to hold it up, and ran a train up it. (It worked,was I glad) Cheers Paul
Well, I'm off and running (building to be more precise). Thanks especially to Watash for some great photos and historical stuff on trestle construction, and to Paul Templar for his jigs and design ideas. You guys are great. I'll post a picture or two when I'm done (assuming the result isn't too embarassing). Dan
There is never anything too embarassing to post on here Dan, I have even posted some of the stuff I have cobbled together, and I haven't heard anyone laughing yet! I take the attitude that maybe someone will see something I overlooked, and they will VERY tactfully SUGGEST their idea to me, gently, from a longways off, out of arm's reach, probably too far for a good clean shot. You see, there aren't any "flamers" here on the Board, (they email me direct) and I just tell them I don't like their altitude, and I LIKE what I built, so deal with it! Then I put their address on my Junk Mail list, and that's the last I hear from them! Its easy to be a genius when you know how! GO FOR IT!
Is there any rules about decking width on trestles? I made a grave error when making mine Since I had a HO trestle that I made for a previous layout, I cut the new deck out of plywood to match the trestle and attached the track. Now I have to figure out how to camo the edge of the plywood which is about 2 1/2" wide. Any suggestions? Regards, [ 17. February 2005, 14:14: Message edited by: vanda32547 ]
Ok, mines in N scale (ducks to aviod flying tomatoes) - but it is on a curve and I didnt use the standard tressles due to, well, non-plannning. You can see more pics in my RI album
I think that the bridge and the supports/deck should be as plausible as possible. I always think of a ballasted deck as a steel bridge, especially if it is large. Timber trestles are lighter in construction. I think that the Trestle and Bridges book covers this very well. They also have a guide in it for span width vs depth.
