Weekend Update 11/18/18

[tehachapifan]

I got where you were going with that and I found it amusingly...familiar. Many of us (myself included) are very, very serious about our hobby and are extremely focused and engaged when it's go time. We're having a blast even though it may appear to the contrary to the casual observer.  If I was there, I'm sure I would have had a similar look going on.

[nkalanaga]

"Probably feel safer on my knees sucking in brake dust . "

That's where I'd be on a side walkway, if I had to share the bridge with a moving train on the adjacent track.  Wait until the train is past, then resume walking.  Also, a low profile minimizes the chance of being hit by an over-width or shifted load.

[Cajonpassfan]

Currently there is only 1 set of tracks on that span,   and it looks like it was probably laid out as two seperate sections right next to it.  Google zoom is bad on this bridge. I guess I could cut the double ties once this is all glued in place and created the look.  I will see how strong this gets. As for the walk ways, I dont think this one had any.( yeah i know thats not right)   The origial B/W photo's show the ties just hanging over and no vertical posts.  And the top photo with the snow doesnt help.  I need to look at that one again , because i think I saw vertical posts on one side.    For now the whole thing is salted, and hopefiully i can give it the grey coat tonight.  I'm leery about the towers since I modified these to make it wider and those side struts I fabricated are delicate, so real slow and steady on those.
Guys thanks for your pictures too.   very nice

Miguel, is there a photo of the prototype bridge somewhere? Did I miss an earlier post?
Thanks, nice work so far.
Otto K.

[bbussey]

https://www.fireengineering.com/articles/print/volume-110/issue-10/features/fire-fighters-go-piggyback-in-submarine-base-mobilization.html
I did not login or start an account , but not from fear .

This is 1957 on the New Haven.  Guess I should consider at least a pair of 40' TOFC flats with period-specific fire engine loads.

[mighalpern]

Otto here are some of the few I have, most came from the NPHRA photo gallery, so not sure how they will show up here

I see that the fire barrels are there ( on a steel bridge, I guess for tie fires and things :facepalm









this last one almost looks like telephone lines or cables across, or ???

Miguel

[mighalpern]

ok so salting was done before the turkey was carved,



had to make a cradle so things would not break off.





and then to unsalted took a few hours.  so with a toothbrush and got a lot off.  Will probably find salt for months





sorry the last two WILL not sit right for me
Later
Miguel

[Chris333]

I modeled my double track bridge with the walkway down the middle. I found a few photos of them on the Erie where there was no walkway off to the side or railing.

[nkalanaga]

Mighalpern:  Fire barrels are a common sight, even on steel bridges, in the steam era.  Even after diesels appeared, many western trestles kept them, in case of sparks from brake shoes.  Tie fires were a fairly common problem.

Also, the barrel platforms served as safety refuges, so the bridge wouldn't need standard side walkways.  If a train appeared, wait for it to pass on the nearest barrel platform.  Long tunnels often have similar refuges cut into the sides.

On the other hand, the top view shows the side guard timbers under the snow.  There is something in the middle, but it's too wide for a guard timber, and doesn't look like two parallel timbers.  I suspect it DID have a walkway in the middle, in case a crew had to change a knuckle, or an air hose, but that workers were expected to use the platforms rather than standing on the walkway while a train passed.  The walkway would be there just to keep feet from getting caught between the ties.

The wires are probably signal and telegraph lines.

[eric220]

Long tunnels often have similar refuges cut into the sides.

Fun fact: the lower deck of the Bay Bridge connecting Oakland to San Francisco used to have a double track interurban line running on it. If you’re headed eastbound on the bridge today on the lower deck, you can still see those dead-man holes cut into the south wall of the tunnel on Treasure Island.

[nkalanaga]

I drove to Charleston, WV today - it isn't far.  Along the way I stopped in Kenova to mail a letter.  Looking up from underneath the NS/N&W trestle over the town, to the Ohio River bridge, I noticed that it has a center walkway, made of metal gratings, probably the same stuff they used to use for roofwalks.  A coal train was on one track, and the two tracks were easily far enough apart to stand comfortably on the walkway between two trains.  This bridge has individual ties for the two tracks, and I didn't notice what supported the walkway.  I could see through the grating, and it was the same material they used for another bridge just south of there, also in Kenova.  That one is on a curve, and has outside walkways on both sides of the double track.  I don't know if there's a center walkway or not, as I've never been able to stand underneath and look up.

I've been in Kenova at least weekly for over six years, and had never looked that closely at the bridges.