I’ve just had a successful experience installing guard rails on a bridge which has a “Garden Metals” plastic deck on it. The plastic deck, which represents deck ties and walkways (If you use the walkways…they are removeable), does not come equipped for guard rails. It’s too bad as that is the only thing missing.
I have seen Clem’s (Of Warrier Run) deck with a guard rail glued to it, but it always seems to come loose.
So; I decided to spike rail to the deck. Using a #59 numbered drill, I drilled holes every six ties, right next to the simulated tie plate and spikes on the inside of the track rails, then inserted Micro Engineering long spikes into the holes, leaving the head just above the ties to allow me to insert the guard rail under the heads.
Using Aluminium code 215 rail; I inserted it under the heads of the first spikes, then drilled another hole on the opposite side of the smaller rail to allow the insertion of the second spike. I did this along the whole length of the guard rails, extending about 8 inches past both ends of the bridge. I used the same spiking method on the ties of the regular tie strip off the bridge.
As soon as someone takes pictures of the bridge; I’ll have some kind soul post them here.
I see too many people put great care into building great models of bridges and trestles; only to leave off one or two finishing touches that make or break a model.
The first is the use of regular tie strip, on a great model, and the second, the neglect to add guard rails.
All sorts of excuses are used for these two faults, and yes, there are bridges and trestles without them. But, in the end they look much better with the guard rails and the proper bridge ties.
I happened to have code 215 rail handy, and I think it looks great with the code 332 running rails; but you could use code 250, or even the 332. Most pikes seem to use lighter rail or old used rail for guard rails.
The ends of the rails are bent inward to the centre of the track; and some are even bent at the centre point, down towards the ballast. Tie plates aren’t normally used under the guard rails.
If you model the RGS; you might note that they commonly layed the guard rails on the outside of the running rails.
Guard rails were meant to prevent drailed wheels from going off the tie area, and kept the rolling stok in line while on the bridge. This helped to prevent damage to the structure and saved rolling stock from falling off the bridge. They were not meant to rerail anything.
Guard rails might be of some great use on those high and long bridges that some Garden Railroaders seem to find so attractive. They might actually prevent stuff from falling off the bridges.
I hope that this may inspire others to take the time to put that finishing touch on their otherwise great structures…
