Curved Trestle Material

Check Scenic Express 

In a similar situation, I used flexible plastic molding strips from Home depot. Not I-beam, but it is an alternative.

Avanti posted:

In a similar situation, I used flexible plastic molding strips from Home depot. Not I-beam, but it is an alternative.

You know, they say "avoid S curves", but it is so neat to see the train kind-of whipsaw through them.  Do you have a signal that indicates "approach slow"?

Also, that Super O track is very cool.

George

Bobby:

I believe the pros (manufacturers) use some kind of hardboard - masonite which is suppose to bend fairly easy.

Joe

I used 1/8" Masonite with balsa strips. 

Nicely done!

I see the type that John H made fairly frequently in layout pictures and I was thinking that someone posted a place or two that made it. No idea of the pricing though? I thought I had saved the info, however, I can't seem to find or remember it? I really do like that type of sides on elevated tracks, looks very good, IMO.

Maybe someone will post the vendors that offer it, if you want pre-made that is. 

I would custom build the beams using styrene or abs plastic. By cutting the radiused flanges from sheet material. I would cut the web from the same material and glue it to the center of the radiused pieces. At that point adding vertical stiffeners and tying the two beams together to support the track would be simple.

alan graziano

Thanks, everyone. I would like to give credit to Jim Policastro here on the forum for the idea. He had a post describing his elevated track a while ago.

Thanks, John. 

Your elevated track came out great. I particularly like the way you raised the girders just enough to provide some derailment protection.

That would have saved me the trouble of having to go back and add railings later. Plus, it's less prone to damage that way. Next time, I'll be doing it that way, too. 

Jim

rtr12 posted:

.....Maybe someone will post the vendors that offer it, if you want pre-made that is. 

Clem already posted above that Scenic Express makes something very similar.

Here's a link:

Girder sides

Just cut the sloped ends off to join more than one section together. Then attach it to the sides of your plywood roadbed instead of under it as shown in their photo.

Jim

Thanks, that is an option too, but I was thinking it was one of the folks that made bridges or something like that? Maybe it was the entire raised roadbed? Memory ain't what it used to be. Anyway, I like the ones that you and John have made the best so far though, looks good! 

Try the first (top level), from scenic express.  Very flexible, easy to bend to any curve.

This is balsa wood attached to a very firm basswood floor.  You have to pin/clamp it with wood glue to the basswood.

Both materials give you infinite flexibility to shape your line to your specific needs.  The first is very easy to work with.  The second is somewhat labor intensive, but very sturdy and looks more prototypical.

Hope this gives you some ideas...

Jerry

I have used 1/8" Masonite.  Extremely flexible, workable and cheap.

Ed

Hi Bob...I use poly styrene and stripstyrene. You can bend and cut it to any size you need.

Are you comming up for the Springfield show????

Very similar thread here from some of the same contributors in this thread and includes some additional ideas.