Plate girder bridge kits

[Justin Phillips]

I am looking for a plate girder bridge kit, but can only seem to find N or OO standard gauge kits. Has any one used a kit that is 00-9 specific?

00 standard gauge would probably be too big, and N maybe too small? Or do N gauge kits come out about the right proportions for light narrow gauge railways?

[Graeme Dunbar]

Wills sell a sectional kit that can be build up into different lengths;

https://www.trainshop.co.uk/building-accessories-oo-/3757-vari-girder-plate-girder-panels-5050881154700.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAqaWdBhAvEiwAGAQltu0x84pXMut6fbfUGdl4FBzOy66UpheS1tXwx0VrSNn5abwGSjqQlBoCa04QAvD_BwE

My first thoughts are to go for OO scale (as 009 is OO scale) but think about the reasons why a narrow gauge railway (if it is British practice) would have a plate girder bridge. Perhaps it was 'upcycled' from a redundant nearby standard gauge location or maybe the specific NG traffic needs the investment of a strong bridge.

It may be possible to 'cut and shut' an OO kit to reduce the height if that is what is wanted. If the cut is made just above the bottom riveted strip the join might be disguised by rust, moss etc. if the cut is not perfect.

Edit: a thought just occurred. Some Auhagen scenic models I've bought are a peculiar HO going on TT scale (some of their stuff is labelled HO/TT in that same way some other manufactures say OO/HO) and I see they sell a plate girder bridge
https://www.petersspares.com/auhagen-11441-plate-girder-bridge-single-track-ho-gauge.ir
Someone may know what the size is, but if it is like some bits of theirs I have it will be smaller than OO but less obviously 'miniature' than N used in an 009 context.

[Justin Phillips]

Wills sell a sectional kit that can be build up into different lengths;

https://www.trainshop.co.uk/building-accessories-oo-/3757-vari-girder-plate-girder-panels-5050881154700.html?gclid=CjwKCAiAqaWdBhAvEiwAGAQltu0x84pXMut6fbfUGdl4FBzOy66UpheS1tXwx0VrSNn5abwGSjqQlBoCa04QAvD_BwE

My first thoughts are to go for OO scale (as 009 is OO scale) but think about the reasons why a narrow gauge railway (if it is British practice) would have a plate girder bridge. Perhaps it was 'upcycled' from a redundant nearby standard gauge location or maybe the specific NG traffic needs the investment of a strong bridge.

It may be possible to 'cut and shut' an OO kit to reduce the height if that is what is wanted. If the cut is made just above the bottom riveted strip the join might be disguised by rust, moss etc. if the cut is not perfect.

Edit: a thought just occurred. Some Auhagen scenic models I've bought are a peculiar HO going on TT scale (some of their stuff is labelled HO/TT in that same way some other manufactures say OO/HO) and I see they sell a plate girder bridge
https://www.petersspares.com/auhagen-11441-plate-girder-bridge-single-track-ho-gauge.ir
Someone may know what the size is, but if it is like some bits of theirs I have it will be smaller than OO but less obviously 'miniature' than N used in an 009 context.

Thank you for the information and thoughts. I will look into the above. I did ponder scratch building something but given a real lack of time, and having never scratch built anything before, I have ruled that out for the moment.

[JulienW]

To be honest the size of the girders that make up a bridge is more to do with the length of span and the load it needs to carry.

It may be best to try designing the bridge from first principles and look at the length of the span you are bridging in your model, then

The strength of the girders is mainly determined by its depth (thickness top to bottom), so think about how heavy your trains are going to be. A bridge designed for something like the Welsh Highland Railway (and its South African Garratts), Welshpool & Llanfair or Lynton & Barnstaple (for example) would need to take heavier loads and have much deeper girder section than something for lighter locos like quarry Hunslets or small diesel/petrol locos that could get away with a shallower section.

In addition to 'kits' for standard gauge in various scales there are a number of plastic I sections available in a range of sizes (I've used 'Plastistruct' and 'Evergreen' brands) for scratch built bridges that are in essence a large girder under each rail, with the rails supported either on closely spaces cross sleepers or on longitudinal timbe balks sitting on top of the girders.

[Justin Phillips]

To be honest the size of the girders that make up a bridge is more to do with the length of span and the load it needs to carry.

It may be best to try designing the bridge from first principles and look at the length of the span you are bridging in your model, then

The strength of the girders is mainly determined by its depth (thickness top to bottom), so think about how heavy your trains are going to be. A bridge designed for something like the Welsh Highland Railway (and its South African Garratts), Welshpool & Llanfair or Lynton & Barnstaple (for example) would need to take heavier loads and have much deeper girder section than something for lighter locos like quarry Hunslets or small diesel/petrol locos that could get away with a shallower section.

In addition to 'kits' for standard gauge in various scales there are a number of plastic I sections available in a range of sizes (I've used 'Plastistruct' and 'Evergreen' brands) for scratch built bridges that are in essence a large girder under each rail, with the rails supported either on closely spaces cross sleepers or on longitudinal timbe balks sitting on top of the girders.

Thanks for the info.

This is it, I am only going to be running light industrial diesels or small steam locos with light freight or passenger cars.

I have seen bridges of the "I" beam design you have mentioned and to be honest that would probably do me, and I could scratch build something quite easily as well, so that has given me food for thought. I am thinking maybe some N gauge set track for track on the bridge as that will have closely spaced sleepers, albeit skinnier.

[Justin Phillips]

I think I am going to go for the under beam design. I have the Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling book by Peter Kazer and it has a nice real world example that I will use as a basis.

[JulienW]

Let's see if I can get this to work...






This was something I built for a fellow West Mids Group member that uses Plastistruct I girders for the main structure (from memory 10mm deep) with smaller sizes I, L and T sections for the rest. It's based on photos of a similar bridge (more of a viaduct, perhaps?) on a forestry line in Romania (iirc).

[Alan Pollock]

Let's see if I can get this to work...






This was something I built for a fellow West Mids Group member that uses Plastistruct I girders for the main structure (from memory 10mm deep) with smaller sizes I, L and T sections for the rest. It's based on photos of a similar bridge (more of a viaduct, perhaps?) on a forestry line in Romania (iirc).

Hi

That does look great thanks for sharing

Thanks
Alan