11-21-2014 UPDATE...The "FIND" of a lifetime at York!!..is now on the layout..new pictures!

Hi John....Actually, you are right...I took a chance made the purchase Thursday as soon as the clock tolled....  I had measured it and it was about 8 feet long...yet I somehow envisioned that I would be able to modify it to fit the space.  As it turns out, all that had to be done is to shorten the roadways since they were part of the total length...  The bridge itself was EXACTLY the length of the space I had...ah yes...divine intervention..??

 

By the way, I use the latest version of Firefox and when I right click on the pictures within my post above, a window comes up with choices..one of which is "open link in new window".  When I left click that choice, the picture appears as a full page view...BIG!!  So...I am not sure what is going on since you and I both use Firefox...  By the way, I am using a PC...

 

Alan

Art...the bridge is 54" from the floor.

 

Thanks,

Alan

 

 

SJS...the maroon stairs are an MTH crosswalk...I don't recall the item number, perhaps someone will know...  Anyway, I cut the crosswalk basically in half to get what you see.

 

Alan

Alan,

 

Wow that looks fantastic, very nicely done !!!!

 

 

Alex

Alex...I can't remember....did I show you the bridge when it was in my car?  I had already removed the larger back seat ( it is a 40/60 arrangement) before I left for York since I knew I was bringing back a large skyscraper building.   The bridge just "happened" and so I was really worried it would not fit...but I have to give that PT good marks as I have been able to transport a lot of stuff in it over the years!

 

Alan

Alan, I'm thinking if you can install a turnout on the elevated line you can use the bridge as a staging spur for another 'el' train set.

Watch the little thingy go back and forth, back and forth, back and forth.....

 

Your eyes are getting heavy. You are very, very tired.

 

That's it. Go to sleep.

 

Now repeat after me - MUST SELL THE BRIDGE TO MIKE -

The bridge looks great and right at home, Alan. It certainly would dwarf a lesser layout.

 

Alan:

 

Thanks.  It's this one http://mthtrains.com/content/30-9053 or this one http://mthtrains.com/content/30-9066.  Both are readily available for anyone else who's interested.

 

All looks great.  Keep sending photos.

 

SJS

 

SJS...it is the two track (second one) version.  The neat thing about it is that it come apart easily and one can kit-bash it in a lot of configurations...

 

Alan

Brian...the EL lines up almost perfectly with the upper level rail line of the bridge so I will be able to connect the two.  The trolleys or subways will reach the end of the bridge going into the wall and then stop and reverse direction.  The idea is to make it look like rail traffic is crossing the bridge and going into the suburbs, etc.  UHMM...wonder how hard it would be to cut a hole into the wall and then span over to Mickey's layout next door.....??

 

Jon...the bridge span is 6' 6" in that picture...

 

Thanks,

Alan

Hey Bob,  I have a Bridge a little larger than that,I can let you have it for $800. It's at my buddies house in Brooklyn……. 

Alan, great story. As I said on the other thread (I somehow missed this one) the bridge looks awesome on your layout. It just fits in perfectly.

 

I love how you have the trains going through the backdrop. I've never seen that before. What a great idea. I assume the trains go somewhere and make it back to the layout some at other point?

Is that a "Bridge to Nowhere"?

Just finished take a bunch of night time shots...I will post them tomorrow.

 

Thanks,

Alan

Looks great in there, Alan.

I'm still trying to wrap my head around the notion of an 8' Long model railroad bridge.  2X4's are 8' long; plywood is 8' long--but a model railroad bridge 8' long is something else altogether.

 

Thanks for all the pictures.

 

Carl 

 

Alan, all you need is a building permit, possibly a variance, a good contractor (or the ability to "do it yourself") and you could greatly enlarge your layout. Why I've even heard that there are ways to modify support walls so you can cut them wide open.

 

It's a dangerous way to think.

 

Gerry

I was recently trying to find switch information and came across these photos on wiki. CTA interlaced switches.

 

The photo of the bridge showing the EL on your layout immediately brought these to mind as I was thinking...How will he tie into the EL?

 

The effect of the bridge and the EL is very prototypical.

 

I was also a little confused with the rails on top. The EL in Philadelphia is self contained. The subways cross the Delaware River to New Jersey and are, of course, on the bottom with the roadway on the top. Fun story and nice lesson.

 

The Sherwin-Williams commercial store in New Castle, DE supplies the coatings for the non-stop painting of the Delaware Memorial Bridge. Note the color. It must be a common color if Mo. DoT uses a similar color.

 

I am looking forward to the night photos. Thanks, Alan.

Alan,   what is the Bridge constructed of………   

Some of us acknowledge this, and are thankful.....

Can't imagine your layout without this, Alan! Great focal point.

Great find, Alan I will have to get up to your place and see in person.

Once again guys....I really appreciate your inspiring comments!

 

Gerry:  I would go through the wall except there is a small problem.....the layout is on the second floor and so I would also have to get the air rights below..LOL!!

 

Alan

Moonman...thanks for the picture.  AND...yes, I'll bet that the color is pretty common.  I didn't realize until the post above that the bridge had been painted with MODOT green which does appear to be the same green many bridges are painted...glad I kept it that color!

 

Alan

Stephen....the bridge is made entirely of wood by a gentleman that is an expert carpenter with more than 50 years of experience.  He has an interesting story that I am going to submit to Allan Miller....As it turns out, he had a large layout with 8 large bridges all scratch built!!

 

Alan

Mike....I am not that far away from you buddy....AND....the highway just happens to connect our two places!  You are welcome anytime

 

Alan

A vicarious thrill for bridge junkies everywhere.  Thanks.  

"Note the color. It must be a common color if Mo. DoT uses a similar color."

 

Frank, you are absolutely correct about the green color. As I traveled around North America, I have seen many green bridges. I guess it is so popular as it is a pleasant color and may be easier to maintain.

 

Speaking of green colored bridges, one of my favorite bridges is from my home state of Rhode Island. When it was originally built, it was painted in a light green color. Later it was painted in a dull grey color. Captain John tells me that it is being repainted to the original green color. Thank goodness!!!!

 

We have a model of the Newport bridge on out layout with of course the green paint scheme. Last year when we were visiting Captain John's layout, I took a photo of the current color of the Newport Bridge with the grey towers.

 

 

 

Yes, PennDOT likes that color too.  I think it is common like battleship gray for ships!

Nice photos guys!

 

Thanks for the great comments...

 

Brian:  I don't think I have ever seen your bridge up that close...it is beautiful.  What is it made of and what are the dimensions?

 

Alan

gunrunner, in IE11, right-click the photo>select open in new window>the increase zoom to 150-200% or pick one. Then close the window. The next time you do that with another picture, the windows remembers the zoom setting and opens it to that setting.

 

Alan must have done that with one picture and has not changed the settings. The high res pics do look good zoomed. Firefox most likely remembers the zoom setting also.

Absolutely correct Moonman....!

 

Alan

"Brian:  I don't think I have ever seen your bridge up that close...it is beautiful.  What is it made of and what are the dimensions?

 

Alan"

 

The Newport Bridge is all made out of steel. It is a heavy one indeed. It measures 6 ft. long, 14" wide, and at the top of the towers, they are 38" tall. I shipped it from the Chicago area where it was made. The UPS driver (who we got to know very well) said this can't be a train item, it is more like a sofa.

Great story Brian....!!  Sounds like the bridge is strong enough to be a sofa..LOL!!  I have always admired it but never knew it was that large.  If you get time, more pictures taken a little closer would be really nice for all of us to see..

 

Alan

Great Story, Great Bridge. I can't believe how the size was so close. The "FIND" (this would never happen to me). Thanks for sharing.

Thanks Casey!!...

 

Alan

OK....as I stated on my update added to the original post, I added trusses to the roadway and railway support beams.  I believe they added a nice touch of detail.  I will be adding walkways on either side and on the outside of the roadway beam next. 

 

Here are a few pictures...hope you enjoy!

 

Thanks,

Alan

Your attention to detail is awesome. Wish some of your ability could rub off on me. Looks great Alan.

Alan it just keeps getting better all the time.