Viaduct Bridge Options

[mike_lawyer]

I have constructed my table for the new PRR Middle Division layout, and have added extruded foam insulation to the top.  I have the track plan set, and I need a nice viaduct bridge for crossing a river for a two-track mainline.  I see the old Atlas N scale viaduct bridge, and I might go for that, using two of them secured together for sufficient width.  Does anyone have any other recommendations for a viaduct bridge?  The span I have is about 10 inches.  Thanks!

Mike

[Scottl]

Micro Engineering makes a variety of kits.

[mike_lawyer]

Just to clarify my original post, I am looking for a stone viaduct bridge.

[peteski]

I think the confusion ensued because "viaduct bridge" seems redundant to some of us.  "Viaduct" by itself already implies that it is a structure which bridges a gap of open space.  At lest that is my interpretation.

[Chris333]

"viaduct" means a bridge made of identical repeating spans.

[keeper]

Just to clarify my original post, I am looking for a stone viaduct bridge.

Maybe you can find something from European manufacturers:

https://www.dm-toys.de/en/list/search/viadukt.html

Thomas

[NtheBasement]

I have a long Atlas viaduct.  Only issues: horribly undersized compared to any prototype I could find, and required some straightforward putty work at the joints.  A European kit with sort of ashlar cut stone had the same issues.  Also I had to do some minor tie trimming to get ME c55 to fit in the slot.

I don't know of any real world case where multiple arches would have such short spans.  Knowing what I know today I'd go with a different style, maybe a thru-truss or plate girder with a single pier in the middle.

[nickelplate759]

Kibri makes some n-scale stone viaducts.

[nkalanaga]

The only reason I can think of for such short spans would be a low bridge, where a wider arch won't fit.  Most arches were circular, so the width was limited by the height.

Most American railroads wouldn't have built such a low stone bridge, as wood piles or a fill would have been much cheaper.  Similar sized stone culverts were common.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Ah those Atlas arch bridges: the standard stand in for Pennsy arch bridges. @Dave V did a good job of making his look more PRR.



It's easy enough to cut out the barrels and stretch them you need to make them wider instead of just sticking two together.

Keep in mind that they're still awfully small compared to the beautiful bridges you're trying to replicate. So far I haven't seen a good fit for those, so these typically get used.

[nuno81291]

I follow some German/euro modelers who make very convincing stone viaduct bridges by carving them. (How and what medium exactly I can’t recall). Seems tedious but may be something to consider if you have the patience.

[DKS]

How much effort are you willing to invest? I made a stone viaduct from Chooch tunnel portals. It's a fair bit of work, but the results are worth it, I think.

The viaduct I made was an abandoned road bridge, using two track stone portals plus some scraps of stone retaining wall. A PRR-style viaduct could be made using the same technique except using single-track stone portals. You also have your choice of random or cut stone.

[haasmarc]

DKS,

That looks really nice!  What did you use to fill in the underside of the bridge arches?

[DKS]

DKS,

That looks really nice!  What did you use to fill in the underside of the bridge arches?

Thanks! The arch undersides are pieces of stone retaining wall, cut thinner, and bent by dipping in boiling water and wrapping around a form.

[wm3798]

I followed Dr. Dave's approach using the ubiquitous Atlas viaduct. 


Yes, the arches are a bit small, but then, so are most of our layouts.  The addition of the reinforcement bars and some ivy climbing up helps disguise the joinery between the two kits.
For mine, I used a single width bridge that I sliced down the middle, then used sheet styrene to create a new deck of the proper width.  Some whittling of the pier material provided in the kit gave me the proper width for the supports, then I filled in the barrels with some printed sheet. (I might have done that better with some cut block styrene stock, but it's adequate for my purposes so far...

Anyway, we'll be interested to see what you come up with.
Lee