Kitbashing a Double Walthers Bascule Bridge

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dmeephd

dmeephd

Modelleisenbahner1955
Nearly finished is a kitbash combining two of the old Walthers Bascule Bridges into a dual-track bridge, not unlike one located in the Netherlands near Zeebrugge.

The bridge is massive, and will require gearing and a motor much more stout than that supplied with the kits. Calculations indicate that about 10 oz. of ballast weight will have to be added into the models "concrete" counterweights. Shinohara Code 100 Bridge track will be laid down next, complete with Peco stud strips because this is going on a Maerklin Digital layout which is of course, AC with middle stub contacts acting as the 'third' rail.

There was little modification required; alternate pairings of the inside halves of the side structure were assembled together, producing the necessary slots for mounting the substructure. (It was almost as if Heljan had this in mind when tooling the molds.)

Comments would be appreciated for my first posting of what's on my workbench. When it gets warm again, I'll get it outside for some natural lighting shots.

David Martin, Ph.D.
 
Couple more photos plus the prototype inspiration

Follow up pictures of model and the prototype in Zeebrugge that inspired this kitbash.

David Martin, Ph.D.
 
Looks good!!! It resembles New Jersey Transits HX bridge used on the Bergen county line crossing the hackensack river.
 


NJ Bridges

Hello Steve!

Yes, I know those bridges well. Traveled across them more times than I can count. I'm also got three Custom Model Railroad Lift Bridges on my workbench. One is a dual-track with modified - taller - towers, the other two are a single-track and a double-track that will be combined into a triple-track like the massive Dock bridges crossing the river just outside of the Newark Penn Station. (There used to be a set of these in eastrn Germany, but they were bombed out of existence during the war.)

David Martin, Ph.D.
 
Fine looking work on that kitbash, David. I can see that you'd need a real counterweight to lift up the kitbashed bridge. I'm curious about that prototype pictured bridge. Unless the bridge extends further left out of the picture, that seems like a massive bascule structure for what appears to be a small bridge over a small canal.
 
Prototype comparisons

Hello Jim;

Yes, the prototype has a shorter span, by about 10-12 meters. However, it's girth and height are appreciably the same. The prototype regularly handles freight and ore loads.

David
 
David, I guess the bridge structure must be much heavier than it looks in the picture. The only reason for a single leaf bascule that size is to offset the weight of the bridge itself so it must be pretty heavy since the bascule structure actually looks larger than the bridge.
 
Dock Bridges in Newark

Hello Steve;

I wouldn't have even made the attempt if I hadn't ridden over them almost every workday this year through August and then discovered that very nice lift bridge model from Custom Model Railroads (http://www.cmrtrain.com/lift.html) that could be used for a starting point.

I'll post some photos later this week of the extended double-track lift bridge.

My next "bridge" is this: the Schiffshebewerk Niederfinow Nord.

David
 
Schiffshebewerk Niederfinow Nord

Just to clarify, that model that is pictured is NOT my handiwork; it resides in the museum on the site in Brandenburg of this famous ship lift where the modern replacement is currently under construction.

David
 


Schiffshebewerk Niederfinow Nord

Hi Jim;

No, it's a ship lift, which actually lifts (or lowers) a ship or barge from one level of a canal or river to another level. Think of it as a wet dock in an elevator. Occasionally one of the barges will be carrying a load of railroad wagons.

Leave it to the Germans to think of such a thing; it was placed in operation in 1934 and retired a couple of years ago. A new one is currently under construction.

Here's the site: http://www.schiffshebewerkndf.de/index.html

David
 
Wow, David, that is one heck of an elevation change for a canal. I can see from the new construction picture that they are trying to lower that grade. You're right, though, only the Germans would think it was good idea to run a canal through country that would actually require a ship lift to get from one elevation to another. It must have been a very costly and time consuming maneuver.
 
If anyone's interested, there's a Wikipedia article which lists a number of ship lifts around the world, but it doesn't seem to include that German one:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boat_lift

And the "New Heaven line" sounds like the railroad on which to take a farewell journey to the promised land!
 
Cos cob bridge

David isn't there one more like your model at Cos Cob on the New Heaven? I thought I remember going over it once.

NYC_George
 
Cos Cob Bascule Bridge

Hi NYC!

I don't know; I've ridden up and down that line a few times - I think - on Amtrak, but can't recall the details of that bridge. After all, I model European prototypes, so I only pay attention to US structures when the bridge is both striking and there is (or was) a European prototype in existence.

The Dock bridges interested me after riding over them virtually every work day this year when I had a QA position in Jersey City. (I live way out on the Delaware River in NJ, so driving was out of the question.) I did a lot of research to discover that although there are a few lift bridges remaining in Europe (discounting the ones in the UK which I do not model, sticking strictly to continental Europe), the ones closest to those in NJ were destroyed during WWII.

Curiously though, I bought the Walthers Bascule bridges on eBay only because they were out of production and far nicer than the old Pola or Faller versions. I actually bought two with the idea of building them essentially out of the box as to bridges, then discovered the dual-track lift bridge in Zeebrugge. So I found a third Walthers Bascule bridge on eBay and started this dual-track kitbash. I'll build the third one as designed.

And yes, I paid a pretty penny for them on eBay, and I was actually gratified that they are not being re-issued by Walthers next year!

David
 


Bascule Bridge specs.

I just came across your postings about the Walthers bascule bridge kitbash; awesome work! I've just retired and have gotten back into model rr, and stumbled across this bridge at an opportune time, as I have a great spot for it.

I recently acquired a used semi-complete version of this model, and it is missing the counterweight. I will try to recreate it - probably using wood or foamboard - and your pictures are very helpful in that regard. Would it be possible for you to post the general measurements of the weight? It would be greatly appreciated.

Dave W.
 
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