Tanker man
G scale and 5 inch ride on
As you can see, I have used galv tray quite a bit on my railway, hopefully, the pictures are mainly self explanatory, most of the bridges were built at least 10 years ago , the green one nearly 20 years ago ( and in need of repainting!)
The big suspension bridge is made of Thermolite block, glued together, the suspension cables are 10mm earth wire , with 6 mm wire twisted in a battery drill to tighten it up , cable lugs at the bottom and 15mm copper pipe crimped onto the 10 mm wire. It does nothing to support the cable tray, it is only for show.
Hope this helps
Dave
Attachments
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Alec K
Guest
Oh, yes, Dave, it certainly helps! This is exactly the use I had in mind for the cable tray outside- even down to entering and leaving the garage (or shed, as you have shown). Furthermore, the lifting bridge arrangement with the pasting table hinges is what will be needed inside the garage to clear the access door, as I mentioned. The suspension bridge is inspired: furthermore, every bridge has the industrial 'feel' of the real thing.
If these structures of yours have lasted a decade, that's quite long enough for me. This'll become a go-to reference for me - many, many thanks!
Paul2727
Registered
I've been considering something similar to contain the ballast on my 'soon to be built' line. Both on suspended sections / bridge bases but also set into the top of embankments. All with weed control material to stop the ballast running through the holes. i was looking for some wide enough to carry twin tracks and found these people.
Direct channel do cable tray upto 600mm wide.
Medium Duty Premier Range
Available Sizes - 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm, 225mm, 300mm, 450mm & 600mm Widths x 3 Meter lengths
With a 25mm Return Flange
Pre-Galvanised.
See link below.
Medium Duty Premier Range
Regards,
Paul.
NB: They also carry zinc galvanising spray and brush on paint in a range of colours.
Direct channel do cable tray upto 600mm wide.
Medium Duty Premier Range
Available Sizes - 50mm, 75mm, 100mm, 150mm, 225mm, 300mm, 450mm & 600mm Widths x 3 Meter lengths
With a 25mm Return Flange
Pre-Galvanised.
See link below.
Medium Duty Premier Range
Regards,
Paul.
NB: They also carry zinc galvanising spray and brush on paint in a range of colours.
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Alec K
Guest
Many thanks, Paul, GAP had spotted these people earlier on - I have a source of tray lengths closer to hand but not the accessories, on closer inspection, and so this is worth following up. Those 45 degree angles look interesting. Many thanks to both of you.
A
Alec K
Guest
The removable cable tray bridge spanning the gap at the doorway into the CLR HQ has been virtually completed.
- The cable tray was cut to length following the use of a wooden template to ensure the correct dimensions for the gap to be crossed. A steel hacksaw was used and the cut edges were filed smooth. The spare length remaining was used to make a storage shelf for the completed bridge when it is not in use. Unlike the cable tray used by Dave so successfully on his outdoor system, my version does not have perforated sides.
- Because the geometry of the layout in the doorway area required a very slight curve, Peco G45 flexitrack was used on the bridge section. The centreline of the track was carefully plotted on the tray, holes drilled in the sleepers, and the corrresponding sites were marked on the tray with a centre punch prior to drilling for the self-tapping screws used to secure the track. Aligning the rail ends with the fixed sections was critical and time-consuming.
- Hillman rail clamps were considered as a means of holding the track in alignment and to maintain current flow across the bridge, but the set I had did not allow for the different rail profiles of the Peco and LGB track. Instead, I installed Peco fishplate adaptors designed to connect these two rail profiles, but cut back the plastic sheath such that only the baseplate moulding and sprung nickel silver contact strip were left in place on the 'landward ends'. This enables the bridge to be slid beneath the LGB track so that the sprung contact strips bear on the fixed brass rail webs.
- Alignment of the bridge span is achieved by two small baulks of MDF mouldings screwed to the worktops so that the cable tray shoulders butt against them.
- The track on the bridge is checkrailed. Lengths of rail were extracted from surplus Peco G45 track, sawn to length, and the outer ends bent in a vice. The lengths were connected using standard Peco fishplates. The chair mouldings were carefully sawn from the sleepers of the now empty lengths of track web, the edges roughened with a file, and were glued to adjoining sleepers using Araldite Rapid two-part epoxy glue. The lengths of rail were then slid into place. Because the chair sections are secured to the running track the checkrails are perfectly aligned and the necessary flangeway is maintained.
- It all works, electrically and mechanically.
- A parapet is being installed to the removable section, using mild steel right-angle brackets bolted to the floor of the tray using 2BA bolts, nuts and washers, and spare lengths of metal tile trim.
