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The Prototypes
The prototypes for this Pratt truss pin connected arched chord bridge were built early in this century for steam railroad operation and many are still in service today. The actual prototype for this bridge still stands. It has weathered the coal smoke of the steamers it saw when it was first built and now is greased with the diesel smoke from the Hi-tech units that cross it daily.
If you are interested in learning more about bridges and these bridges in particular, at the bottom of this page are some references you may want to investigate.
The River Raisin Model
River Raisin's S scale single track 175' Pratt pin connected arched chord bridge is 31" long and strong enough for any train. As most of you know, one of our builders, Cheyenne Industries, has made quite a name for themselves in model railroading circles building fabulously detailed bridges in both HO and O scales. Now Cheyenne has made one of their most recent models available to us in S scale. Bridges are among the most difficult items to faithfully execute on a model railroad, yet they form an absolute centerpiece when present. The model is accurately executed in every detail with literally thousands of rivets and detail castings. Each bridge requires close to 100 man hours of skilled craftsmen labor to construct. Just imagine trying to do it yourself!
Here are a picture of the bridge and a few close-up pictures of the model:
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Click on a thumbnail to see the details of the bridge up close! |
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Model Railroader Magazine Readers Choice Award for Pin Truss Bridge
River Raisin was awarded the prestigious Readers Choice Award for S Scale Structures in July 2001 at the NMRA National Convention in St. Louis. We are excited to win this award since it is based solely on the readers and it was their choice among many other fine S structures. We have a few of these bridges left in stock, so contact if you're interested and get yours before they are all gone.
Catch some action crossing the bridge!
Doesn't your layout need at least one?
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Click on the thumbnail image to see the picture full size! |
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For more information on bridges, the Pratt Truss bridge in particular and bridges for your model railroad, check these references:
Books
1) Cook, RIchard J. The Beauty of Railroad Bridges in North
America - Then & Now. June 1987, Golden West Books.
ISBN: 0870950975
2) Hayden, Bob (ed.) and Michael Emmerich (ed.).
Model Railroad Bridges & Trestles: A Guide to Designing
Bridges for your Layout (Model Railroad Handbook, No. 33).
March 1992, Kalmbach Books. ISBN: 0890241287
3) Mallery, Paul.
Bridge & Trestle Handbook. 2nd Printing, Carstens
Publications.
4) Harris, David W. et.al. Truss Fun.
BaHa Enterprises, December 2000. ISBN: 0967549507.
Bridge Related Web Sites
1) American
Railroad Bridges - paper by Theodore Cooper, 1889
2) Bridge
Basics
3) Library
of Congress - Railroad Bridges
4) Railroad
Bridges - Newer Bridge Types
Copyright (c) 2000-2008 River Raisin Models. All rights reserved.
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3/16ths Brass Model Trains - S Scale models that are built by fellow modelers that care to bring
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