Large Scale Central

Trestles in a ladder system

Track and Trestles
#11

Devon, frost heave in our neck o’ the woods is seldom a problem, though you might have a micro issue on your property that will make a liar out of me. Unless you have rocks popping out of the ground each spring, I wouldn’t worry about it. The Rathdrum Prairie is almost all sandy loam.

For my trestle (long gone, due to ROW changes), I used a 1 X 6 cedar board, the length of the trestle as its base, then used 2 X cedar, cut to size to support the bases of the bents at various heights, as though they were resting on rock substrate. When installed, the cedar base rested on 2 inches of gravel for drainage, then I backfilled basalt gravel on top as though it was talus. I though it looked pretty good.

#12

Steve Featherkile said:

Devon, frost heave in our neck o’ the woods is seldom a problem, though you might have a micro issue on your property that will make a liar out of me. Unless you have rocks popping out of the ground each spring, I wouldn’t worry about it. The Rathdrum Prairie is almost all sandy loam.

For my trestle (long gone, due to ROW changes), I used a 1 X 6 cedar board, the length of the trestle as its base, then used 2 X cedar, cut to size to support the bases of the bents at various heights, as though they were resting on rock substrate. When installed, the cedar base rested on 2 inches of gravel for drainage, then I backfilled basalt gravel on top as though it was talus. I though it looked pretty good.

Yeah that’s what I figured Steve. I have zero clay and only about a foot if I am lucky of sandy loam. The good old Rathdrum Prairie gravel/rock/sand. I don’t expect a problem.

#13

I did pour a slab for my trestle to rest on. No footings, and the slab is between an inch to 2 inches think with hardware cloth in it to act as small rebar. The trestle just rests on that slab, because things will move a little and I want things to be able to move a little instead of get stressed and break. I understand the desire to over-engineer things so that they won’t fail, but a huge monolith for the trestle sounds like overkill to me. Especially if the day ever comes when you want to change something.

Like Todd said, once all the bits are assembled, the structure becomes very strong and ridged. I built this for a friend of mine, its just sitting on my living room floor for its builder’s photo. Even though it looks a bit delicate, its actually quite strong. It had no complaint holding up 20 some pounds of Aristocraft Pacific.

#14

David Maynard said:

I did pour a slab for my trestle to rest on. No footings, and the slab is between an inch to 2 inches think with hardware cloth in it to act as small rebar. The trestle just rests on that slab, because things will move a little and I want things to be able to move a little instead of get stressed and break. I understand the desire to over-engineer things so that they won’t fail, but a huge monolith for the trestle sounds like overkill to me. Especially if the day ever comes when you want to change something.

Like Todd said, once all the bits are assembled, the structure becomes very strong and ridged. I built this for a friend of mine, its just sitting on my living room floor for its builder’s photo. Even though it looks a bit delicate, its actually quite strong. It had no complaint holding up 20 some pounds of Aristocraft Pacific.

Shannon,

That’s a great shot. I found a real trestle pic that looks like the one you built. That’s just exactly what I want. I can see enough in that shot to piece one together. Thanks to you and everyone else for their input.

#15

Amazing trestles Dave and David.
Mine I like ot keep simple without so much cross bracing. If you have lots of trees on your property Devon a fancy trestle will catch blowing leaves that will need ot be picked out by hand. Just a thought.

If you don’t already have one… get yourself a pin nailer before you begin.

#16

Todd. This will be pretty well protected from the trees. For one it will be right behind the train shed/ bunk house a 7.5’ by 7’ two story building which the bottom floor will be my train shed and the upper section will be a play house for my eventual grandkids (or me when my wife finds out how much I spent to built the RR). Also it faces into instead of against the prevailing wind. But that is a good thought.

I will have a pin nailer soon.

#17

Trestles 101 - Family Garden Trains. http://familygardentrains.com/primer/bridges/trestle/trestle.htm. A good resource.

Still trying to sus out this tablet.

#18

Steve Featherkile said:

Trestles 101 - Family Garden Trains. http://familygardentrains.com/primer/bridges/trestle/trestle.htm. A good resource.

Still trying to sus out this tablet.

You rock Steve,thanks

#19

" The Rathdrum Prairie is almost all sandy loam."

Apparently you’ve never dug a hole in the Rathdrum prairie, Steve.

Or the Spokane Valley. All the rocks left by the Great Ice Age Flood are deposited there.

I wish it was sandy loam. Then I wouldn’t have had to haul in 12 yards of topsoil for my new front yard.

Just sayin’…

#20

OK, do you have frost heave problems, jb?

#21

do you have something like this in mind?

it is minimalistic. just sticks and nails.

here is the building protocol:
http://www.largescalecentral.com/forums/topic/21015/a-trestle-bridge/view/page/1

#22

Steve Featherkile said:

OK, do you have frost heave problems, jb?

Nope. Everything is floating. Even the bridges and trestles are floating. I do have track movement in the winter, tho.

#23

John Bouck said:

Steve Featherkile said:

OK, do you have frost heave problems, jb?

Nope. Everything is floating. Even the bridges and trestles are floating. I do have track movement in the winter, tho.

That’s what I thought. I’ve dug a few holes in Post Falls in my youth, and there was nothing to give concern about frost heave.

#24

FYI: Trestles 001;

Square timbers are set on a sill.

Round pilings are driven into the ground fat end first.

John

#25

John Bouck said:

" The Rathdrum Prairie is almost all sandy loam."

Apparently you’ve never dug a hole in the Rathdrum prairie, Steve.

Or the Spokane Valley. All the rocks left by the Great Ice Age Flood are deposited there.

I wish it was sandy loam. Then I wouldn’t have had to haul in 12 yards of topsoil for my new front yard.

Just sayin’…

I Have about 8-10 inches of to soil before 300 feet of rock gravel and sand

#26

So thanks for all help.

I have decided on a five pile open frame design like this one

Using this for dimensions (only narrowed for narrow guage)

I will be using round piles. I started out thinking 3 feet of length and 12 1/2 rail to rail hieght. So I started cutting out the wood and laying it out and 3 feet was whimpy it is now 5’ 5" and in order to get the height and look I wanted I went to 14 1/2 rail to rail height. It increased my overall grade to 1.6% instead of 1.5% I think I can live with it.

#27

Devon just in case you need some more info, I found this a great resource as well. http://4largescale.com/trains/trestle.htm
And thanks to Bob Hyman for putting this together. One of our very own here at LSC.

#28

Devon, my railroad is 2.58%, and I can still run decent trains with most of my locomotives. I have a Bachmann 2-4-2 that can’t haul enough to earn its keep, but she is the exception, not the rule.

#29

David Maynard said:

Devon, my railroad is 2.58%, and I can still run decent trains with most of my locomotives. I have a Bachmann 2-4-2 that can’t haul enough to earn its keep, but she is the exception, not the rule.

Yeah I wasn’t worried I really felt I could go to at least 2% but with what I had going there would be no need. 1.5% I considered very safe and would give me plenty of room to fudge like I did.

Heck in my first n scale layout I went 4.5%.

#30

Randy McDonald said:

Devon just in case you need some more info, I found this a great resource as well. http://4largescale.com/trains/trestle.htm
And thanks to Bob Hyman for putting this together. One of our very own here at LSC.

Most excellent resource. I will have to review it but I think I have it down. Those Great Northern plans are a dream. Made it very easy.