How about bamboo
Did the prototype have guard rails Devon?
Don’t know. Since I have no picture other than one where the bridge is underwater and I have no blue print or drawing I have no clue. The track profile does not say one way or the other. So your guess is as good as mine. I am certainly certainly open to theory on whether a small cheaply made narrow gauge would have them.
I do like the looks of the guard rails especially old rail ones on the inside coming to a point. Now whether or not they were present don’t know. Same with planked walk ways. Again a looks thing to me.
This covers it…
This might be more your speed… time and location are close…
It’s pin connected construction.
Inside a bridge structure you don’t need the out board timbers…
John
Thanks John,
That picture does show the decking well. I love the steel bridge but It just has to be wood for personal preference. Steel just doesn’t seem “right” to me even though I know it very well could be.
Not needing outside timbers on through bridge makes sense. I think I have a good idea now Of what a bridge should be. Now I just need to make it. Thankfully I have all the cedar one will need to build it and the wife is out of town this weekend. So we will see what happens.
Devon
John wanted you to build the wood one in the background!
I would love to see a detailed shot of the one in the background. Now thats an eye catcher.
Ha oops I must be near sided didn’t even see the bridge in the background. That one in the background is cool.
Don’t forget to allow for the escape platforms. They usually held a water barrel, as well, for fire fighting purposes. There are two in the photo of the deck bridge, above, that shows the guard rails.
Devon Sinsley said:
Thanks John,
That picture does show the decking well. I love the steel bridge but It just has to be wood for personal preference. Steel just doesn’t seem “right” to me even though I know it very well could be.
Not needing outside timbers on through bridge makes sense. I think I have a good idea now Of what a bridge should be. Now I just need to make it. Thankfully I have all the cedar one will need to build it and the wife is out of town this weekend. So we will see what happens.
I believe that’s an Iron bridge… paint it brown!
Eric Schade said:
My covered bridges use How trusses. this test of the strength of the bridge is before adding the truss rods, which also add strength.
here is the bare truss so you can see what it looks like. the thin stringers running the length of the bridge will hold the siding.
the cedar roof and siding keep the weather out and protect the bridge truss. these bridges are made from #2 pine and are left out all the time. my oldest bridge lasted 20 years in the weather. it was replaced because it was too small. It was perfectly weathered…even had a few replaced siding boards which were also well weathered!
Eric I do not think after doing that much work I would have the testicular fortitude to attempt that test, besides the fact I am probably 50-60lbs heavier than you, I would cry if as soon as I stood there it went CRACK BOOM, kindling. Cannot wait to attempt to build one myself, getting materials assembled now. Great job!
KALMBACH Bridges and Trestles for good info…
Ross, oh yea. That’s my go to reference.
Kevin,
Yes you can. I was the one that went off the reservation with the Howe Truss thing and I learned a lot. I could still make an argument for what is really a Howe Truss design but who the hell really cares. Make a bridge how(e) you like and it and call it whatever you want. None of us will loose sleep over it.
There is a beautiful restored cover bridge of the Howe Truss Design located in Cottage Grove, Oregon. I think the original, unrestored version is the one shown in the Bridges book by Kalmbach. I based my 5 foot long redwood bridge on this design.
That is a true Howe!!! Wish you had a picture of where the diagonal braces come to rest at the bottom. But at the top the key is the angled blocks and square cut beams By using flush cut beams landing on angled block the load is transferred squarely instead of wanting to shear. That is what Howe patented.
Devon… Here are some other photos I have. I really liked the metal V-Blocks that helped hold the bridge together. The proved impracticable to duplicate for the bridge model I was building for outdoors. Someone, such as Ozark Miniatures, should cast the parts out of metal.
The Covered Railroad Bridge is located in Cottage Grove, Oregon. Here is a webpage with all of the information: http://www.cottagegrove.org/chambers.html Go to the bottom of the page and they explain how it is a Howe Truss Bridge! There are a lot of other covered bridges in Cottage Grove. Instead of tearing them down they brought them in to make a tourist attraction…
If you go to see the bridge, and I highly recommend it, stop in Historic Downtown Cottage Grove and have brunch at Buster’s Main Street Cafe. Great food! 'Nuf said…
Russ Miller
NGRC 2016 Chairman
We have a gentleman on here who wants to cast bronze parts. Maybe if someone drew up those V blocks and such he could cast them.