Building this trestle:
Madness, you say? Not at all! I'm working in N-scale, so it will only be TEN FEET LONG!!! Bwahahahahah!
Plans! I need plans! Elevations, details, photos - especially of the dam - the spillways, surge towers and powerhouse.
I have a dozen or more photos, but they're all taken from the train, or from the side. Not a single one shows the entire bridge!
Alas, I have so many questions that just a few engineering drawings would answer.
Like:
- How many towers? I *think* I see 15.
- What is the degree and length of curvature at each end?
- Is the section above the dam straight? Looks that way in the photos.
- Is there a grade? What about superelevation on the curves?
- How do the ties meet at joining sections on the curve?
- Or are they graduated through the entire curve?
- When were the outer walkway and railings added?
- What are the speed and tonnage limits?
- Did passenger trains ever slow down or stop for picture taking?
- Are there sidings at both ends?
And so on...
I'm planning a trip there next fall, but I'd like to get my ducks lined up before I visit the site because time will be limited, and with my luck, it will be pouring rain.
I also have a few questions on construction technique. This thing has to disassemble into reasonable sized pieces. No problem for the base modules, but the bridge has to come apart too. Making the deck from one piece of laminated birch makes sense, but the towers have to disconnect from both the deck and base. I'm thinking Lego bricks here. A firm connection, but easy to pull apart. Has anyone ever tried this? Is there a better approach?
My quest has just begun. Give me a sign, oh Mighty Internet, that I may complete this project without getting totally over my head.
Huzzah!
Mac B. Vancouver BC