Using sectional track ,12" pieces .
Where do you locate the bents? One at each joint? At each joint and the middle? More?
I’m trying to determine the best look. The trestle will start at a straight section and become an elevated oval in a twice around.
I currently have some temporary bents at 12".
Does not look good. I would recommend 6 or 8 inches.
Ralph
Mine are at 6 inches. Eight inches is fine but I wouldn’t go any larger. You don’t want a heavy loco taking a dive.
This will give you some specs on trestle bents.
http://www.riograndesouthern.com/RGSTechPages/_bdwhite/rgstec1.htm
“The bents were placed 16 feet apart, with stringers of 8 x 18 inches. If the bents needed to be farther apart, stringer size was increased to 8 x 24 inches. Many bents sat on footers made of large wooden blocks, while others used formed concrete.”
At 1:24, that would make them 8" apart, at 1:20 closer to 10 ".
…don’t forget the “Guard Rails”…
If you are taking the trouble to build a great wooden trestle; take the time to use proper length bridge ties, spiking rail to them. Then add guard rails to give your hard and dedicated work, the look of a real trestle.
After building all the bents, installing all the bracing, finish the job properly…it is worth your while if you value all the work you have already put into it.
On the RGS, they often placed the guard rails on trestles outside the running rails. In some cases this is a feature that when seen in a picture; tells you that it is a picture of an RGS structure.
Guard rails, whether between the running rails or outside, were usually of lighter rail than the running rails. If your running rails are code 332, then try using code 250 for the guard rails.
Use Aluminium rail. It is easy to work with. If you use code 250 as standard, then you can use code 215 for the guard rails.
In that picture on the link provided by Ken (Sketch) you will note the position of the rails. There are four rails shown…two were running rails and the outside two were guard rails. The wood timber running along the edge of the bridge ties was not the guard rail, but was there as an intrigle part of the tie structure. It did act as part of the guard rail structure in a major accident, but had a different name, which eascapes me at this minute… It was bolted to each bridge tie, helping to secure them together, and protect their ends.
Even today on steel bridges, the ties are much longer than normal track ties. And most major bridges have guard rails. Get out and look at a rail bridge near you. DO NOT TRESPASS on Railroad property.
Or purchase one of the books on trestles and bridges published by “Klambake” (Kalmbach). They will give you a wealth of information at a reasonable price.
If you have any pride in your model building; do reasearch....lots of it, buying and equipping your library with information books. Then when you build a bridge or trestle; don't skimp....do it correctly, finishing with the details I mentioned. You will be glad you did.Did the RGS also place water barrels at each end of their trestles?
I’ve never seen pictures of that…but that’s not saying they didn’t.
Bill, it doesn’t matter where the track “Joints” are placed on the trestle. You place your track on the trestle after it is built. All of my trestles bents are 6 to 8 inches apart. Your biggest challenge will be placing the bents at your oval. The distance will be farther apart on the outside of the curve and closer on the inside. Another challenge will be the radii. You said you are using sectional curved tracked, correct? I would use flex and bend it to fit the trestle. Much, much easier. I have two long curved trestles on my layout. The bents are 6" on the inside and about 7" on the outside. They will have guard rails as soon as Ph. Phred installs them. 
Noel of California and our “live” channel" train group, does a segment on how to put an additional rail next to the reg rails (there is a name I believe for this but I don’t remember it) It is in the video on demand section of his and my site listed below. Go take a look, it looks pretty easy, and I guess on trestles and high place they place this 3rd and 4th rail to kind of lock in the wheels over a trestle, bridge, etc. You can email noel too through here, and he will be able to tell you probably which show it was on. If I can find it I will post a follow up or he will. The Regal
http://www.livestream.com/crazytrainguyschannel
http://www.livestream.com/noelw
Some backwoods rr’s used timbers as guards, like mine.
Fred Mills said:Regel sent me an E-mail on this aritical and Like Fred Mills said.. Its nice to use Aluminium if can and paint it if don't like the looks of it but. maybe try to use a smaller rail like we didn't do .. We used 332 for rail and guard rail and it would make it much easyer if the guard rail was a little smaller to clean the track main rail for we are track powered.. We do a show on The Regal Fri. night show of "How to do things." You can see it .
On the RGS, they often placed the guard rails on trestles outside the running rails. In some cases this is a feature that when seen in a picture; tells you that it is a picture of an RGS structure. Guard rails, whether between the running rails or outside, were usually of lighter rail than the running rails. If your running rails are code 332, then try using code 250 for the guard rails. Use Aluminium rail. It is easy to work with. If you use code 250 as standard, then you can use code 215 for the guard rails.
http://www.livestream.com/noelw
Then hit On Demand tab/ to How to projects/Installing Guard rails.
You can put guard rails in after you build you tracks or bidges in to.
Most of ours in California are Guards rails inside of the main tracks. I know scence I installed them it saved me a bunch headakes getting derailed rolling stock (if it happens and has.) to get them off of the bridge over a deep koe pond…
Our bends are around 6 inches apart on any hights.
Hope this helps… Noel
Funny as I don’t see any guardrails here at Craigshead on the Lurgan Branch(ex Reading line) of the now owned N.S line from Rutherford(in Harrisburg) to Hagerstown M.D…very heavily traveled as well. I see none on the truss bridge or the deck girder(concrete ties though)?
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/The%20Railroad/July2007008.jpg)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/The%20Railroad/July2007004.jpg)
(http://i45.photobucket.com/albums/f72/Shortybear/The%20Railroad/July2007002.jpg)
Not arguing but just stating the facts I have seen?
Thanks Fr. Fred,
That’s really terrific advise. I’ll try to incorporate all of your well defined points into my meager attempt at a wooden structure to get my excuse for a garden railroad over this first obstacle!
There is always the exception to any rule, but generally there are guard rails on most bridges and trestles.
Fred Mills said:There are exception's to every rule in this hobby......This is what makes it so great in many aspects! :)
There is always the exception to any rule, but generally there are guard rails on most bridges and trestles.
David Russell said:Rules? We have rules? I didn't know that! :lol:Fred Mills said:There are exception's to every rule in this hobby......This is what makes it so great in many aspects! :)
There is always the exception to any rule, but generally there are guard rails on most bridges and trestles.
Steve Featherkile said:
David Russell said:
Fred Mills said:
There is always the exception to any rule, but generally there are guard rails on most bridges and trestles.There are exception’s to every rule in this hobby…This is what makes it so great in many aspects!
Rules? We have rules? I didn’t know that! :lol:
Well, I have only one rule: It’s my RR and I’ll do what I wanna do…
