Steel Arch bridge

bigricho · Sep 4, 2009

After looking through the bridges I've downloaded from DLS, I can't seem to find a steel arch bridge similar to the Canyon Diablo bridge. Would anyone know where I could find one?

Thanks

colorado71 · Sep 5, 2009

I am not sure, but I think a railroad bridge of this type was not yet created for Trainz. Something similar is the "Truss Arch Bridge," but that is a road bridge. However, you can try with "CPR Stoney Creek Bridge". Maybe it works across the Canyon Diablo.
Good luck.

Sampug394 · Sep 5, 2009

We have been needing some Serious, Good looking updated Bridges. The Big default ones look terrible, and have that See-Through issue...

jrfolco · Sep 5, 2009

bigricho said:
After looking through the bridges I've downloaded from DLS, I can't seem to find a steel arch bridge similar to the Canyon Diablo bridge. Would anyone know where I could find one?

Thanks

Bendorsey may have what you are looking for. He has over 3000 assets including numerous bridges on the download station, so you might have to do some searching. But there's a good possibility that you may find something that suits your needs.

Joe

bendorsey · Sep 5, 2009

And if I don't have something similar and you can provide a few more photos and some basic dimensions I can make it for you.

Ben

colorado71 · Sep 6, 2009

Because the old bridge across the Canyon Diablo was 541 feet long, I think this new bridge has 18 panels with a panel length of 30 feet. It is a double track bridge and more photos can be found with a search for ,Canyon Diablo’ at www.railpictures.net
Radu

bendorsey · Sep 6, 2009

I'm terrible at doing research. I'll be glad to make the bridge if someone else will do the research. I don't need a ton of info. Just basic dimensions and enough photos to show the complete bridge (including ends) from the side and a few angles.

Ben

SPNGTyler · Sep 6, 2009

http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=202489&nseq=2

Wow, could hardly find any detail shots of that thing. The link above is the only one I could get, and its only of one of the ends.

*note* From looking at these, I have made up my mind that whenever im out railfanning and I happen to be at a bridge, im takin pictures.*

Sorry I couldnt do more.

mjolnir · Sep 6, 2009

bendorsey said:
I'm terrible at doing research. I'll be glad to make the bridge if someone else will do the research. I don't need a ton of info. Just basic dimensions and enough photos to show the complete bridge (including ends) from the side and a few angles.

OK, not research, but maybe the photo gives enough clues for a first effort. The bridge is approximately symmetrical, and three SD units (guesstimated length, 65 feet) plus what appears to be a modern 75 foot refrigerator car give a length of 270 feet, close to the length given earlier in the thread of 541 feet. Again referencing the photo, the height of the bridge above the concrete footings is about the length of 1-1/2 SD units, or about 100 feet, and the height of the rail above the top part of the arch is about the length of 1/2 a unit, or about 35 feet.

Since it's symmetrical, you only need to one half of it, and mirror the other. Just brainstorming here, if you use the same structure for half the bridge,to construct a similar unit in TS / TRS, you'd use it twice, once on each end, with one end rotated 180 degrees. you could also create a second assembly as a filler (perhaps as a spline), that would allow the two ends to be further apart than 541 feet if needed. Finally, a third assembly, with arches on both ends, could be used with the end unit, and a sufficient number of connecting splines, to make a bridge as long as was needed.

Wikimedia commons has a picture of the bridge from another angle at commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Canyon_Diablo_Bridge.jpg
. The photo on wikimedia seems to be taken from the end of the bridge near the two refrigerator cars, looking across at the other end.

ns

bendorsey · Sep 6, 2009

Ok guys - I think I have enuff info and photos. Let me finish the Garmouth Bridge and I'll get on it. Day or two at the most.

Thanks,

Ben

colorado71 · Sep 6, 2009

bendorsey · Sep 6, 2009

I saw those - thanks.

BTW for poly-count reasons I will have to use solid girders. Lattice girders and those with square and oval holes in them look nice but crank the poly-count thru the roof.

Ben

bassist118 · Sep 6, 2009

Looking forward to this very nice bridge.

Andy

Jerker · Sep 6, 2009

G'day Ben,

You'll probably get away with that for this bridge...

...but for future reference, you should try my 'thick less "H" Girder' construction method (when in need of "H" or "I" type girders - or for that matter, "L" and "C" types). Just construct the "H" "L", "C" or "I" girder in the normal manner (you can even use the built-in 3ds Max plug-ins) but make each of the side/back boxes with 0 (zero) thickness, so that, effectively, you save four polygons per cross-section (you create subsequently three lots of back-to-back planes) - that's a total saving of 12 polygons per girder for "H", "I" and "C" types or 8 per "L" type, which makes one heck of a difference if you need a lot of them (without any noticeable loss in build quality)...

...don't forget to weld the vertices before you finish...

Jerker {

}

bendorsey · Sep 6, 2009

First of all I use Gmax - not 3Ds. I have tried your method. It works quite well for making lo-poly stuctural members but I don't like the loss of edge detail. Granted even very large structural members are built up from parts only 1 inch thick but you lose them with girders constructed from planes. As I have said before - everything I make is either close to the track, on the track, or is track so I like real details.

Want a laugh on me? I just finished making the first version of the Garmouth Bridge. When I went to import it to Trainz I got a "do you want to over-write this file" message. HUH??? I took a look and it turns out I've already made over 20 versions of this bridge. Guess I forgot (after over 3300 items things do tend to get a bit fuzzy, lol). The new one is a bit different so I'll do it anyway and rename it Spey Bridge for the river it crosses.

Should start on the Diablo Bridge late today or early tommorrow for sure.

Ben

SPNGTyler · Sep 6, 2009

Can't wait!

I can't wait for this to come out. Looks like im going to have to go back and redo bridges with that(The bridges I have now were meant to be temp anyway). Btw, anyone know how old that bridge is?

mjolnir · Sep 7, 2009

Not for certain, but I'd guess late 1950's to early 1960's based upon the fact that when I did a google search, I saw a picture of the bridge it replaced "carrying" the Super Chief over the gorge. I used quotation marks around carrying, because I suspect it was an artist's rendition, as there was only a single E unit, at the head of the consist, where I would have expected two or three.

ns

bigricho · Sep 7, 2009

There are actually three bridges in the area that are all called the "Diablo Canyon Bridge".

The current railroad bridge;

The prior railroad bridge;
http://pro.corbis.com/images/NA002965.jpg?size=67&uid=E18B958A-6924-48DC-9715-530301FFE4A7

And the Route 66 bridge;

bigricho · Sep 7, 2009

The original RR bridge was completed in 1882;

It was 541' long and 223' high. The new bridge was built next to it so it should have about the same dimensions. The new bridge was completed in 1947.

bendorsey · Sep 7, 2009

Hummmm - I like the original bridge - think I'll make it too. Single track of course.

Ben

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