Modeling elevated trackage

[Lemosteam]

My LIRR IS layout has a 4' long section of two track main that runs to the left and is going to be placed on this structure:



I am trying to emulate this which is in a state of deconstruction:



My question is this.  Do you think the wood (ties?) on the right most track is a substrate for the ties and rail, or do you think the rail is resting directly atop this wood?  This will have a profound effect on rail height as I transition to the berm wall to the right in the first picture.

I was thinking of using basswood to recreate the image, but then the other side of me says just glue the track on top and glue the structure at a height that is flush with the 2 way take (DKS method) I will be using on the berm wall...

Also a second question:
Originally my scope states that this structure is the lead to a bridge from Long Island to Manhattan. Should I use the structure to introduce an incline to the left after it leaves the berm wall?  I think it might add some visual interest to the building flats that will eventually be behind it:



Any and all help would be appreciated.

[jmlaboda - RIP]

Have you cosidered ITLA Elevated track... honestly some of it probably has better appearance than what you might be building... honestly, if I had need of that it would be the direction I would go in...

http://itlascalemodels.com/elevated-rail.html

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Two thoughts.
Try the HABS-HAER library to see if there's any better detail shots of the structure, or similar structures there: http://www.loc.gov/pictures/collection/hh/
Try Google Maps. See if you can find a spot and get an eyeball on the details. That's what I did here: https://goo.gl/maps/pAXVWqpvCmH2

[Peter Amling]

In my experience in Chicago and elsewhere, the track ties rest directly on the steel structure.

[Lemosteam]

If you look closely at the bottom of the picture you can definitely see the wood underlayment atop the metal in the removal stages.  Just trying to decide if those are ties or not, and I appreciate all of the suggestions and comments.  Wait, is that rail in the circle?

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[wazzou]

I can see where the guard timbers were bolted to the outsides of the "ties" but cannot easily see where the spike holes are for the rail.
But, I think it is safe to assume that if the guard timbers were present as they still appear to be on the track nearest to the photographer, that the track was indeed likely fastened to these "ties".

[Maletrain]

No experience with your "L" track.  But, from walking across a railroad bridge on the ties a while back, I can tell you that the rail is spiked to wooden ties that rest on the steel framework for THAT bridge.  And, the wood ties are not the typical ones buried in ballast laid on dirt.  The bridge ties are square and placed closer together.  I think Micro Engineering has flex track with "bridge ties" that I intend to use for my bridges.

[Missaberoad]

Do you have any other prototype photos?

[Lemosteam]

Ok, sold me on the Micro-Engineering bridge track!  Anybody know if the tie thickness is the same as Atlas code 55?

@wassou

@Missaberoad no this is the only one I have been able to find- I do know it is PRR for sure because of the cat system.

[wazzou]

Bridge ties are the same thickness, just spaced more closely.  Have you looked at Central Valley's?

[Missaberoad]

Ok, sold me on the Micro-Engineering bridge track!  Anybody know if the tie thickness is the same as Atlas code 55?

@wassou

@Missaberoad no this is the only one I have been able to find- I do know it is PRR for sure because of the cat system.

Got to love a lack of reference, when was the elevated trackage removed?  and since I'm ignorant of the location where was it?

IIRC Micro engineering ties are slightly thicker then Atlas ties... I do not have examples to measure however.

[Lemosteam]

@Missaberoad This is all I can find on the subject.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/wavz13/7019448663

[wazzou]

Ok, sold me on the Micro-Engineering bridge track!  Anybody know if the tie thickness is the same as Atlas code 55?

Admittedly, I didn't read this carefully enough.
The ME bridge track ties are .0495 and the Atlas ties are on average .0435.