Starting my First Railway

John you mention a rough plan that you have drawn. I don't see it posted. What Jon has said I have seen on a couple of railways that are a very effective solution to what you are trying to do, if on the ground.

Bit left field here as an "in the air" solution to your bridging issue - a fold up household aluminium ladder ? Not only does it have minimal deflection, with only the weight of the track and train consists on it, but it can be easily packed away when not in use. Just got to figure the track connections if that is permanently fixed to it .

The image shows the hinge, there are 3 on my 11 foot "fold up". These minimise the risk of deflection (sagging) as the ladder is broken up into 4 roughly 3 ft sections with its own bracing effectively built in between each section. Max

20180226_095618.jpg
 
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You can always have a swing bridge -

Testing Trains (66).JPG

DSCF3556.JPG
 
I'm sorry for any confusion. I actually was referring to a new diagram I meant to post, then never did! I've been at a bread conference, so I did not have my laptop. Below you will find the bridge section I am envisioning.
The 56" section may be able to hinge, but the 128" section will not. R3 on the south end of the bridge may become an R5 [running LGB track].
NOTE: North is left, not top, for anyone who is confused about my directions.
Dry Bridge.png
 
The 128" section is going to need a support or 2 along its length. How about a "double gate" system perhaps with wheels for ease of opening?
 
Paul M said:
The 128" section is going to need a support or 2 along its length. How about a "double gate" system perhaps with wheels for ease of opening?
Click to expand...

It doesn't need extra supports if if you pre-tension the structure. I have a drop down leg (with a wheel on the end). I'm lucky because I have somewhere to swing out of the way but it doesn't look like John has the facility.
 
trammayo said:
... but it doesn't look like John has the facility.
Click to expand...

You are correct. Unfortunately there is really no direction the bridge can tuck away, which is why I was thinking a lift-away section(s). After the storm we are getting, I'm planning to lay out track to see exactly how it will fit. I'll take photos once I can do that.
 
BakerJohn said:
You are correct. Unfortunately there is really no direction the bridge can tuck away, which is why I was thinking a lift-away section(s). After the storm we are getting, I'm planning to lay out track to see exactly how it will fit. I'll take photos once I can do that.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a plan. It's so much easier to see what's what by actually laying the track down, rather than trying to draw it out
 
The snow has melted, and my lil assistant was ready to help! We laid track to test measurements and angles today.
The first photo is the bridge section I've been talking about. The red lines will be the ends of the bridges (each end is in the gardens). The total length is ten 30cm sections. The tallest the bridge will get from
the ground is 7" (maybe only 6.5").


Bridge Test1.jpg

The second photo is the end of the bridge (red line) and a section of track that will most likely end up ground-level. The container will still be able to open this way. I will have to dig out the yellow-lined area to straighten the track out.
Bridge Test2.jpg

EDIT: In addition, I have decided on a name for my railway: Leeds Hill Railroad. It seems appropriate since I have begun actually planning the track laying. I may be in the US, but I do live in Leeds!
 
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