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Bridges for Modellers An illustrated record of railway bridges by LV Wood
Bridges for Modellers --- An illustrated record of railway bridges by L.V.Wood -
144 pages
Copyright 1985
Contents
Acknowledgements
Foreword
Introduction
Underbridges
Overbridges
Footbridges
Culverts, Tunnels and Others
Glossary of Terms
Model Bridges
Foreword--Bridges have been featured by many famous photographers over the years. Examples which come to mind include the late Bishop Eric Treacy at Dent Station overbridge on the Settle & Carlisle line, and the late Maurice Earley with his photographs in Sonning Cutting and at the overbridge near Reading West. Other evocative photographs of trains passing under bridges have appeared over the years in the many published albums.
Unfortunately, whilst many good models of bridges exist, some, to a civil engineer, tend to make one wince, and it was with this in mind that I prepared this book. British Railways have over 65,000 bridges of 6ft. span or greater, and it is obviously very difficult to include a drawing or photograph of every type of bridge within this volume. However, I have attempted to show a reasonable cross section of average span bridges which could appear on model railway
layouts. Few people have the space these days to produce multiple span viaducts and, in this case, most will visit a suitable structure to photograph and measure the structure.
Many photographs and drawings of British Railways' bridges are available from the BR/OPC Railprint scheme which is operated from OPC's Bournemouth shop. Sufficient information is given in this book for the modeller to be able to produce a reasonable model of a bridge, whilst personal observation can often spot details to produce a satisfactory model. I cannot emphasize too strongly that modellers should not trespass on British Rail's property thereby endangering their lives to obtain information, much of which is available at little cost.
Finally, I hope this book will act as an inspiration to modellers to have a go at constructing a bridge. There is certainly plenty to choose from!
Introduction--In the case of the real railway, it should be remembered that the landscape existed before the railway arrived, and not as is usually the case with the mod, first the baseboards, then the track, then the scenery. In other words, the whole programme of events back to front. So consider any railway which is to be constructed between two points, where no railway has existed before. Public rights of way, (roads, footpaths, bridle paths) as well as rivers, streams, canals and ditches, have to be crossed in the quest to provide a relatively level track bed across a landscape which is seldom flat, the track formation often being either on an embankment or in a cutting. Hence, the need for bridges and culverts to span any opening required.
In general railway practice, a bridge which carries the line over a river, road, etc., is termed an underline bridge (often abbreviated to underbridge) and, likewise, a bridge which carries a road over the railway is termed an overline bridge (overbridge). Where one railway line is carried over another line this is known as an intersection bridge.
Where existing narrow watercourses or ditches have been crossed by a new railway, these are termed culverts, which are often brick barrels, small brickarches or pipes. These generally are only up to about 6ft. (1.850 metres) wide. It is often very difficult to see these structures as they are frequently overgrown, and it is not unknown for them to provide a good home for wildlife, badger sets being particularly common. Often with changes in the use of the land, watercourses dry up, or in mining areas with subsidence, the watercourses will sometimes cause flows in alternative directions.
Most bridges tend to blend into the landscape well, and modellers should attempt to do the same. Most bridge designers attempt to produce pleasing designs to the eye, and it is perhaps worth mentioning here that all bridges, new or reconstructed, have their elevations approved by the appropriate local council prior to the necessary construction commencing on site.
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