GAP,
That’s the ticket. All looks good. 
Joe Zullo said:
GAP,
That’s the ticket. All looks good.
You’ve just gotta love Microsoft and their technology don’t you?
Having to revert to a defunct browser just to do stuff is really not progress in my book.
GAP, yup! That is why I use Firefox, IE and Edge drive me buggy…
David Maynard said:
GAP, yup! That is why I use Firefox, IE and Edge drive me buggy…
I even went one further for one of my train computers and dumped Windows for Linux Mint with Firefox as the browser, the other still runs XP because some programs will only run on Windows but it never goes near the internet.
I have considered that for one of my old computers. But I think I will just recycle them.
I have now restored the pictures I accidentally deleted.
There will be more pictures and details of the whole railway, not just a small bit of it, on my blog when I finally get it up and running (it will cover both the G and HO divisions).
This is how I intend to do things for forums into the future post selected pictures and a brief description in forums and give more details on the blog for people who are really interested in what is happening on my railways.
I am going to do it this way partly to address Korm’s comment about links to blogs not being forum friendly, I think that this method should be the best of both worlds still make it a bit forum friendly, still have to do multiple posts though.
David Maynard said:
I have considered that for one of my old computers. But I think I will just recycle them.
David
Have a play with one you may be surprised, I am using an old machine that came out of a business when they upgraded.
I installed “Linux Mint” it is light weight ie doesn’t have Microsofts bloatware so it loads and runs fast on older machines.
It will open faster than my Win 10 machine.
The trestle is about halfway done.
More supports to be built then onto the rest of the trestle.
(http://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_3049/GAPs%20pictures/Trestle%20Halfway%20(1).JPG)
(http://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_3049/GAPs%20pictures/Trestle%20Halfway%20(2).JPG)
(http://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_3049/GAPs%20pictures/Trestle%20Halfway%20(3).JPG)
looks nice and sturdy.
but i’m looking forward to see your solution for a background. 
Korm Kormsen said:
looks nice and sturdy.
but i’m looking forward to see your solution for a background.
It is not going anywhere in a big hurry I can tell you.
Just have a concern with a train falling off it so will have to think of a railing of some sort.
For the background I have some sheets of fibre cement that is used to line shower recesses and I am planning to paint it similar to this, which is my HO layout background. Polystyrene could be used as a former for a house render shell (cement/sand mix).
In the corner there will be a mass planting of shrubs that grow to the height of the fence.
Under the trestle there will be stones and in my imagination a shaped area that resembles a dry gully.
I have some old PVC sewer pipe that could be cut in half and used as planter boxes or possibly attached whole, filled with growing medium with holes drilled into it to grow the plants similar to a hydroponics setup.
Under the layout is planned to have flowering shrubs that grow to the height of the base.
I have just had some synthetic turf laid and plan to use the offcuts as grassy areas.
My imagination is limitless once I sit and contemplate things over a few cleansing ales. (https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
I have written a blog about my railways and posted pictures of the progress made.
I called them The Ringbalin Light Railway, G & HO divisions.
I have every intention to keep it up to date as I do things on them
Link to the blog is here if anybody is interested:
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
The trestle is finished.
Now all I have to do is figure out a way to stop anything falling off it or at least have something to catch it before it does a crash and burn onto the ground.
More pictures on my blog shortly
https://ringbalin-light-railway.blogspot.com/p/blog-page.html
(https://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_3049/GAPs%20pictures/Trestle%20part%202.JPG)
(https://www.largescalecentral.com/FileSharing/user_3049/GAPs%20pictures/Trestle%20Full%20Length.JPG)
I’ve got to span a 3meter gap between garden beds. The height will be about 45 cm. I’ve been unsuccessful on the NMRA site looking for clearance information.
Does anyone have a link to make a two track trestle or plate girder bridge which would allow for 1:20.3?
Actually any bridge that can handle double track with clearances would be appreciated.
Hi Bill,
Seems like you’re first asking, what’s a good centerline to centerline clearance for parallel track? I’ve always used 7", but maybe that’s a bit conservative? But if you’re anticipating F scale equipment it might need to be a bit wider… I’m lacking info there.
Then, you’re asking about plans for a 2-track trestle… I don’t know if I’ve seen that, but they may be out there. Garden Texture may have had plans but they’re defunct.
However, you can widen a typical single track design by adding more posts, and ensuring at least the outboard timbers are diagonal-ish for bracing.
Making a jig should be straightforward, especially since it sounds like you’ll only need one height. It can be a PITA when every dang bent has a different height… 
Bill, not sure this is exactly what you are looking for but found this doing a dig in Google and following links in the images.
Trestles & Viaducts
I would also think you could (based on the graphic in the website I list), create a mirror line at the midpoint between the two tracks (whatever spacing you plan to use) and mirror the plan over. I would however make the cap span both tracks for stability.
1 Like
Bill, I took a whack at a bent:
My logic for the posts: need them under the rails, vertical, because they’re the main load-bearing members. The outboard posts are angled for bracing. The center post could be centered and straight (shown), or dual and angled. I guess it’s a question of how much lateral force you want to brace against. I like straight, because that’s what I’ve seen on the 'net most, and it’s easier.
I’m assuming you prefer metric. The 160mm clearance is slightly over the minimum of 6" I’ve seen on the web for 1:20.3, on a straight section. I’ve always used 7" because I think that’s what is in a book or two that I have on garden railroading.
If you go with ~7" CtoC separation, you may want 2 posts in the center.
Anyone feel like 160mm isn’t enough? Or have concerns with the dimensions / arrangement?
The top horizontals are the ties (10x15), and everything else is 15x15. That might be overkill; I use 1/2" FWIW. What member sizes do you prefer?
You may want 2 “stories” of bracing at 210mm (vs 3 at 140).
Will all your bents be the same height?
I’m not an expert on trestle design, so I’d rely on other’s input for a final sketch. But once we have that, I’d be glad to send you a pdf or dxf which you can have printed locally, and spray-mount to a piece of plywood.
FWIW, here’s the 3D.
One other thought, you’d mentioned plate girder approach. That has its benefits, including:
- Being able to buy an alumin(i)um channel and let that be the main backbone.
- Being able to mow beneath it more easily
- Supporting it with one or two piers, vs. all the bents
- Probably more resistant to side-impact, e.g., a stray dog, tipsy visitor or lawn mower
Cliff
Could you draw in the two sections of say LGB track on the top for a visual representation of two tracks?
Great scetch and I love your logic and I think the same
You bet Sean, thanks. It’ll be tomorrow evening though, since my better half is about to ring the dinner bell.
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