Trestle Bridge builders / Trestle Bent suppliers in the UK

DGE-Railroad

DGE-Railroad

The Orchard Line
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Does anyone happen to know of any UK Builders of WOODEN trestle bridges, or suppliers of pre-made bents?

I know I should make them myself; it's not the most difficult of tasks once I make a jig, but I'm at a point in life at the moment where finding the time to research, plan, source the timber and then get on with making them will make that a year-long process (and I've lost my workshop to the elements :) ) Buying pre-made is a more attractive proposition.

There are companies such as bridge-masters.com catering for the US folks but to my knowledge, there's nothing over here.

Thanks!
Darren
 
I've not seen anything - probably because the demand would be pretty low, added to the fact that we don't have easy access to suitable wood types. Even if you go to a specialist model wood supplier like Cornwall Model Boats, their supply of timber in modelling sizes is erratic, and the timber types change frequently.

As for bent suppliers, you can always find a few on evilbay, the ones with the low feedback scores are the most likely :devil::devil::devil:
 
Thanks both.
Rhino: lol. Yes, the bent suppler thing made me chuckle as I was typing it :D

Loathe though I am to admit it, I think doing it myself is probably the only real option. a good thing ultimately; its the sort of thing that needs tailoring anyway and I suspect I'll find it therapeutic once I get stuck in :)
A bit of work up front, but then it's a case of cranking them out and progress would be quite quick
 
Over here, a lot of the Garden Centres sell hardwood stakes, with a 12x12mm cross section... that's 12 inch by 12 inch (near nuff) in our scale.
Didn't even need a table saw, just a mitre box.

DSC_0167.JPG
 
DSC_0264.JPG

One of the traps folks fall into with timber bridges, is having too big a span on the beams. Single depth span is only good for about a scale 15-20 feet, at best. Origina;;y, I didn't have the middle pier, but it made the bridge look silly, especially when I had American stock on it.
 
Rhinochugger said:
I've not seen anything - probably because the demand would be pretty low, added to the fact that we don't have easy access to suitable wood types. Even if you go to a specialist model wood supplier like Cornwall Model Boats, their supply of timber in modelling sizes is erratic, and the timber types change frequently.

As for bent suppliers, you can always find a few on evilbay, the ones with the low feedback scores are the most likely :devil::devil::devil:
Click to expand...
My line in Luton had a Trestle, scratch built using I think 9-12mm square timber (Ramin?) from the varying cut sized shaped wood area as found in BnQ or Wicks. First up is to build a jig then make up ones bents. I used Glue and Small Pins (pre drill bents to stop splitting) but some use small ba nuts and Bolts. Cross timbers to join the bents was similar width but narrower. Well worth mounting the bents on a brick or some such as this will keep the wood out of constant attack by dampness in the earth which will reduce the life of the structure. Mine in Luton survived being climbed over by a large dog that decided the area behind the Trestle was the perfect place to build a nest when she was expecting puppies! It eventually gave up the ghost after some 10-12 years but part of it was still suitable for a small trestle in a second line that I built in the Garden. couple of pics of the smaller structure. This no doubt would have survived a good few mire years except I then mived somit was demolished.
9101B9AF-A827-4BC4-AFEF-508767A26C92.jpeg8BBD2707-90BE-4BBB-AF99-53355D788324.jpeg
 
dunnyrail said:
My line in Luton had a Trestle, scratch built using I think 9-12mm square timber (Ramin?) from the varying cut sized shaped wood area as found in BnQ or Wicks. First up is to build a jig then make up ones bents. I used Glue and Small Pins (pre drill bents to stop splitting) but some use small ba nuts and Bolts. Cross timbers to join the bents was similar width but narrower. Well worth mounting the bents on a brick or some such as this will keep the wood out of constant attack by dampness in the earth which will reduce the life of the structure. Mine in Luton survived being climbed over by a large dog that decided the area behind the Trestle was the perfect place to build a nest when she was expecting puppies! It eventually gave up the ghost after some 10-12 years but part of it was still suitable for a small trestle in a second line that I built in the Garden. couple of pics of the smaller structure. This no doubt would have survived a good few mire years except I then mived somit was demolished.
View attachment 262299View attachment 262300
Click to expand...
Yep, Ramin was a poor man's mahogany (no insult intended) - many hardwood doors were made from Ramin as it was cheaper than Hemlock. It's actually a fast growing, far eastern hardwood that's not actually as hard as some .............. :think:
 
Thanks Gavin, JonD.

Lovely stuff. They look great. Very atmospheric-looking Gavin :)

I've also been watching a fab set of videos (in German, but the idea comes across) here It just goes to show what a logical approach and some attention to detail can acheive.
I'm just trying to figure out what he's found to put on the feet of the timbers in this episode at about 3mins in, to counter exactly what you were warning against, JonD
 
DGE-Railroad said:
Thanks Gavin, JonD.

Lovely stuff. They look great. Very atmospheric-looking Gavin :)

I've also been watching a fab set of videos (in German, but the idea comes across) here It just goes to show what a logical approach and some attention to detail can acheive.
I'm just trying to figure out what he's found to put on the feet of the timbers in this episode at about 3mins in, to counter exactly what you were warning against, JonD
Click to expand...

Have a look at my posts on my blog where I described the construction of the trestle I have just built.

Ringbalin Light Railway G Division

The Ringbalin Light Railway G Division is a Large Scale/G/Garden model train layout (trains running on 45mm track) located in Bundaberg QLD Australia. It consists of two layouts; the "Mainline" and the "Cane Line" that operate independently of each other but do connect via an interchange line.
ringbalin-light-railway.blogspot.com ringbalin-light-railway.blogspot.com

The most time consuming part of the whole process was the drawing up of the template used to make the jig.
Using a the jig just turned bent construction into a production line, at the end I could do 1 bent every 15 minutes.
Assembly on the layout did take an amount of time as well.

The attachment is an article form an Australian model train magazine it is about Australian trestles, may give some inspitation.
 

Attachments

GAP said:
Have a look at my posts on my blog where I described the construction of the trestle I have just built.

Ringbalin Light Railway G Division

The Ringbalin Light Railway G Division is a Large Scale/G/Garden model train layout (trains running on 45mm track) located in Bundaberg QLD Australia. It consists of two layouts; the "Mainline" and the "Cane Line" that operate independently of each other but do connect via an interchange line.
ringbalin-light-railway.blogspot.com ringbalin-light-railway.blogspot.com

The most time consuming part of the whole process was the drawing up of the template used to make the jig.
Using a the jig just turned bent construction into a production line, at the end I could do 1 bent every 15 minutes.
Assembly on the layout did take an amount of time as well.

The attachment is an article form an Australian model train magazine it is about Australian trestles, may give some inspitation.
Click to expand...

Thanks GAP - that's fantastic. I'll take a look through the blog and magazine. much obliged.
 
Once you have knocked up the jig (which is the most time consuming part) you can then create the trestles at a fair lick. I used copper pins into pre drilled holes and heavy exterior wood glue to construct.... I wanted it to last and to take the weight of foxes when they prowl the garden... they aren't as dainty as the cat! ... Oh and of course when I accidentally brush against it when clearing the track of leaves etc.

My trestle was on a curve which made the track base a little bit more complicated
Here is a link to a posting that I put on the forum when it was completed:

www.gscalecentral.net

Spiral, trestle and 'high line' section is finally completed

Some time back I posted photos of the newly cleared space and creation of a spiral on the `local` branch line. It had a trestle with plastic bents and also no trackbed on top of the trestle. This has been replaced with a scratch-built wooden one, wooden track bedding and more work has been...
www.gscalecentral.net www.gscalecentral.net

Here is a photo after five years of weathering:

plymouth on high line 4.jpg

Here are photos of one method of creating the the bents and the track base on top...there are others!
First the plan for each size trestle bent
trestle bent construction 1 plan.jpg


Then the jig guides are glues in place (good use for off-cuts

trestle bent construction 2 guides in place.jpg

The cross beams are cut

trestle bent construction 3 some level beams cut.jpg

For the trestle track bed the outline of the track section is drawn

trestle trak bed construction 1 outline of curve track.jpg

The outline drawn with places for under the track ties shown
trestle trak bed construction 2 plan ready.jpg

The wood strips have been placed using glue and pre-drilled holes for the pins
trestle trak bed construction 3 above.jpg

Showing the under struts that will sit on top of the trestle bents
trestle trak bed construction 4 below.jpg

The bed matches (more or less) the curve of the track

trestle trak bed construction 5.jpg
 
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beavercreek said:
Once you have knocked up the jig (which is the most time consuming part) you can then create the trestles at a fair lick. I used copper pins into pre drilled holes and heavy exterior wood glue to construct.... I wanted it to last and to take the weight of foxes when they prowl the garden... they aren't as dainty as the cat! ... Oh and of course when I accidentally brush against it when clearing the track of leaves etc.
Click to expand...

Lovely photo Mike!
Thanks for the inspiration. I'm quite looking forwards to making one actually. Must just make sure I don't rush it!
 
As some inspiration, seen on a GSS members garden layout.....it's probably 2ft6 tall, and about 5 feet long, on a gentle curve.

D_Trestle Bridge 2.jpg
Malcolm
 
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