trammayo
Interested in vintage commercial vehicle, trams, t
I have been wanting to extend my railway for a while now and have been collecting track for that purpose to give around another 110 feet of line. The existing "roundy roundy" setup is land locked - garden wall and shed on two sides and the drive on the other two. So, I needed to cross the direct path to the shed and also the drive - some fifteen feet.
Originally I thought I could make a movable hinged bridge to swing out of the way and a much shorter lift-out bridge across the path. After due consideration, I realised my hinged bridge would get in the way when I parked the trailer between shows during the season. So I decided on two identical bridges with removable pier - with fixed, locating piers at either end of the combined two - and a shorter - three foot - lift-out.
Being double tracked, weight was a consideration so I looked at aluminium and realised that it might prove costly. I then thought of the 25 x 25 angle I had used on the trailer. This was a light-weight electro galv angle used in metal stud partitions. That used on the trailer (see pic) was embossed and had great rigidity.
So going back to where I got it from in 2008, I worked out that 200ft should do the job. However, whilst all other components for stud walling were there, the angle was out of stock. After three visits, I was finally directed to the buying department who informed me that it would be a long while (next year even) before they got any more in. But, ever helpful, they contacted a contractor who used a lot of the stuff and asked if he had 20 lengths available which they would credit him with. He brought them into the depot and I collected and paid for them a couple oif days later. The only fly in the ointment was that these angles were plain and less rigid!
The smooth, but less stronger, angle looks better of course..
So, ever adaptable, I modified my plans. I did a drawing 10mm = 1 inch, to test the cutting list and found that 5'9" section consumed around 80 feet of metal. With rivets, the cost per bridge will work out at around £19 each and a tenner for the small one.
This how far I've got to-date. One base frame rivetted together and components cut for the second ....
Originally I thought I could make a movable hinged bridge to swing out of the way and a much shorter lift-out bridge across the path. After due consideration, I realised my hinged bridge would get in the way when I parked the trailer between shows during the season. So I decided on two identical bridges with removable pier - with fixed, locating piers at either end of the combined two - and a shorter - three foot - lift-out.
Being double tracked, weight was a consideration so I looked at aluminium and realised that it might prove costly. I then thought of the 25 x 25 angle I had used on the trailer. This was a light-weight electro galv angle used in metal stud partitions. That used on the trailer (see pic) was embossed and had great rigidity.
So going back to where I got it from in 2008, I worked out that 200ft should do the job. However, whilst all other components for stud walling were there, the angle was out of stock. After three visits, I was finally directed to the buying department who informed me that it would be a long while (next year even) before they got any more in. But, ever helpful, they contacted a contractor who used a lot of the stuff and asked if he had 20 lengths available which they would credit him with. He brought them into the depot and I collected and paid for them a couple oif days later. The only fly in the ointment was that these angles were plain and less rigid!
The smooth, but less stronger, angle looks better of course..
So, ever adaptable, I modified my plans. I did a drawing 10mm = 1 inch, to test the cutting list and found that 5'9" section consumed around 80 feet of metal. With rivets, the cost per bridge will work out at around £19 each and a tenner for the small one.
This how far I've got to-date. One base frame rivetted together and components cut for the second ....
