inspirations, for model bridges

[0121modeller]

This one over a canal has deep longtitudal load bearing girders & the paraphet are equally as high & a wide overhang.
Notice also the vertical crack in the retaining wall, its just under paraphet , therefore not to load bearing, easily replicated using (in my preferance) "wills english bond" . The location is at the fazeley canal, castle vale / minworth , Birmingham & the bridge serves the freight line ; saltley-sutton park-bescot route.

[0121modeller]

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[img]http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll139/0121modeller/[IMG]http://i287.photobucket.com/albums/ll139/0121modeller/BRIDGES025-2.jpg[/img]

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Under side is of "Jack arches" between girders with a brick in fill, arches may be either cross or longditudal.,
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[0121modeller]

Here's an example of timber decking , 18"wide timber lengths go the length of the running rails in place of the sleepers , i took this photo behind perimiter fence leaning over, ... as beyond this is dangerous & illegal .
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[0121modeller]

Here's an "A"type girder bridge , in castle vale B'ham, , concrete in-fill between girders easy to model
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heres one on my layout, other side of bridge is "modelled rusty" (seen elsewhere in another thread)

[0121modeller]

Maybe football fans recognize this one !

Good pic to give idea of modeling the wing walls, abutments , & other features , not all bridges have height restriction plate .... because they dont need them.
Thats nice stripey english bond, mortar using "humbrol 121" or simillar, & then carefully "stripe" with fine blue/black CD marker type pen.


When the older type of plate girder are replaced, its often a more modern design of a "box girder" these vary in design, but all have hollow rectangular main side members , complemented by cross girders, again easily modelled from plastruct styrene sections. This one was recently fitted on the stetchford to aston freight route via washwood heath.

[0121modeller]

Details vary, but generally most bridge designs have a separate paraphet , mounted on the main side girder, this is often cantilevered from main girder, so you often see angled "T " stiffeners fixed to the gussets & plate sections.

Note the underside of this "beauty" has cross girders spanning under 2 tracks , notice the "jack arches" to give strength , modelled easily by curling plasticard brick around a thick pencil (or similar thickness) . This one is in Balsall heath, & there used to be a brick arch bridge instead, & also site of train station "Brighton Road" , now just a freight & diversion route . In a referance book i have , it shows there to be a brick arch bridge in 1923 that was later replaced with this metallic one after widening of the roadway.

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[0121modeller]

Heres a re-enforced concrete bridge , modern design & nice brickwork spoilt by graffiti, I prefer to use slaters plasticard brick as they seem more suited to modern brickwork, the "Wills" brickwork i think is more suited to older brickwork as they have charecter of "distressed & the odd slightly protruding brick"
Its mostly always "english bond" used , often "engineers blue brick" as it has better wethering & load bearing properties, although the abutments of this concrete bridge are of "plain bond" . This one is in nechalls , B'ham , & line is stetchford to aston freight & intercity diversion route.

[0121modeller]

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Heres a dis-used line in brownhills/ clayhnger lane, looking east towards old route to lichfield,
with track & ballast lifted, we can see one of many different bridge floor methods.
Note the cross girder/rivets where the wether-proofing is missing.

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[0121modeller]

Another type of girder bridge is the "beam" type, , No paraphet on this one due to the height of girder allowing cross girders, deck plate, ballast & above rail, 4ft high serves as safety feature.... &.. I reckon that girder is just over 5ft high, assuming rail supporting cross girders are 12 inches high approx'.
The line is currently dis-used , this one is in wednesbury, not far from Bescot yard / TMD.

[0121modeller]

Heres an odd one, the angle of that slope-ing wall , the narrow road also is on a slope , looking up to skewed abutments & railbridge.
This is the short stretch of line that is north of stourbridge junction neer merryhill, only used by freight , a few hundred yards on towards right side of photo the line becomes dis-used & overgrown.
My method of modelling dis-used track is to purchase the old steel track, which if left in your garden or damp place will go rusty , after 3 months clean any loose rust (wear gloves & mask), Hows that for realism ?, I also re-thread rails with concrete sleepers , which looks good. (best done before rusting)

[0121modeller]

Heres another bridge with an obscure wing wall, this one is in near to Selly oak train station in Birmingham, there once was another line which ran alongside which led to sidings.
Here's the photo I took a few years ago, the remains of that brick arch bridge may not be there for much longer, as road widening / improvents to this area are on the agenda.

[0121modeller]

Last one from me today ,
The dis-used & ailing Parkhead viaduct in Dudley, recently had girders vertically bolted , this line is supposed to be "moth balled" for a proposed tramlink ,wednesbury to stourbridge, as for "moth balled" i can see no "light" at the end of the tunnel on this proposed link (joke?) ...
... I'll get my coat.

[Southernmod]

Heres another bridge with an obscure wing wall, this one is in near to Selly oak train station in Birmingham, there once was another line which ran alongside which once was a loop line serving the cadbury works at bournville. Here's the pic itook a few years ago, wont be there for much longer as bottleneck roads is on the agenda for improvements to this area.

That bridge was actually access to the carriage sidings which were located at Selly oak station.

[0121modeller]

Southernmod, Yes, my mistake , just reading on this in my books, ; thanks for correction.

[0121modeller]

Many old routes of lines are preserved, and make pleasant nature walks, Heres a view of the top of a plate girder , on the kingswinford to wolverhampton route.
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I think this is side view of the same bridge, on this route all the bridges have been maintained to a high standard, this bridge & its abutments looks almost new & is complemented by its peacefull surroundings , well worth a visit & walk / bike ride on a nice day if youre not far from the area of south wolverhampton -dudley (west side).