Marauderer
1st Class Member
Powder Springs, GA
Foreman
Posts:138
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 | | 08/24/2008 8:50 PM |
| Mark did it say where Jens Bang's bridge was??
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Barry
BBKB RailRoad
VGR, GGRS | |
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Dougald
Moderator
Foreman
Posts:461
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| | 08/25/2008 4:56 AM |
| Barry
Jens is located in the Pacific NW ... Idaho, I believe.
Regards ... Doug | |
Doug Matheson
Manotick Ontario
SA #122 | |
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Marauderer
1st Class Member
Powder Springs, GA
Foreman
Posts:138
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| | 08/25/2008 5:52 AM |
| Posted By Dougald on 08/25/2008 4:56 AM
Barry
Jens is located in the Pacific NW ... Idaho, I believe.
Regards ... Doug
I found the article in the GR mag. Very interesting layout. Big bridge and yes it is in Idaho. | |
Barry
BBKB RailRoad
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NTCGRR
1st Class Member
Nebraska City NE
Engineer
Posts:1078
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| | 08/25/2008 3:33 PM |
| I've been tring to get Jens to build a large grain company beings he has one of my cars running on his RR. He has room for a 35ft long monster grain company.
I have not talked to him all summer. | |
 Marty Cozad
North Table Creek GRR
Nebraska City, NE
Is it "REAL" or just 1:29 th | |
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jebouck
Spokane Valley Wa
Brakeman
Posts:57
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| | 08/25/2008 5:03 PM |
| Marty,
Jens has dissapeared off the face of the earth again--all because of a girl.....
jb | | | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
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Posts:1171
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Marauderer
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Powder Springs, GA
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Posts:138
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| | 08/25/2008 5:29 PM |
| | There isn't. Is there a problem with that as the bridge has only been up and operating since 1997? | |
Barry
BBKB RailRoad
VGR, GGRS | |
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Semper Vaporo
1st Class Member
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Engineer
Posts:1525
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Marauderer
1st Class Member
Powder Springs, GA
Foreman
Posts:138
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| | 08/26/2008 7:21 AM |
| Sounds like your bridge program has some short comings. The way the bridge is constructed/welded together really makes a very strong structure. One of the members, about 175 lbs has gone out on the bridge and cleared debris and derailments. We don't have to many derailments as we have installed rerailer on all three loops before the trains go across the bridge. | |
Barry
BBKB RailRoad
VGR, GGRS | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1171
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| | 08/26/2008 8:55 AM |
| Barry its not a question of construction, which is obviously top-notch, its about perception. I'm an Architect, with engineering training as part of that education, so when guys like me look at something and we just KNOW theres supposed be a support under something holding it up, it knaws at us.
You have a three-truss span, a large center truss span and two smaller ancilliatory truss spans, now those two end spans can be built into the center span but the center span has to have the two ends of that center truss as installed have no support, the simple truth is that if you built this full size without supports under the center truss, When you removed the construction supports, the two end spans would crush the connection point where the two end truss top chords of the smaller trusses connect with the top chords of the center arch and the whole thing would collapse.
The fact that yours is doing fine has more to do with the smaller scale of it. you can get away with a great deal in small scale. Now its your bridge and its working so theres no reason for you to do anything to it, but just expect some funny looks from any visiting engineers, architects, or bridge builders  . I would suggest that if you indeed added piers under each end of that center truss, you could drive a car across it. | |
 Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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Marauderer
1st Class Member
Powder Springs, GA
Foreman
Posts:138
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| | 08/26/2008 9:06 AM |
| | Ahhhhh! I understand now that it is not realistic. I am not sure we want to put the supports/piers in but it is a consideration and thank you for getting me straightened out on what real bridges require. | |
Barry
BBKB RailRoad
VGR, GGRS | |
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vsmith
1st Class Member
SoCal
Engineer
Posts:1171
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| | 08/26/2008 9:32 AM |
| If its working for you, you dont have to do anything.
OTOH if you need a rainy day or winter project, maybe then you can weld up a couple of simple steel piers, I drew this up to illustrate what I was referring to above:
I realize the concrete foundations for the peirs might be a PITA, which is why I suggested, if in your mind, it aint broke, don't fix it
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Kitbashing, welcome to the Dark Side | |
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Marauderer
1st Class Member
Powder Springs, GA
Foreman
Posts:138
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| | 08/26/2008 9:40 AM |
| Posted By vsmith on 08/26/2008 9:32 AM If its working for you, you dont have to do anything. OTOH if you need a rainy day or winter project, maybe then you can weld up a couple of simple steel piers, I realize the concrete foundations for the peirs might be a PITA, which is why I suggested, if in your mind, it aint broke, don't fix it " border=0>
I like it. Hopefully some time next year I can do that. The concrete foundations will not be a problem. I like it!! | |
Barry
BBKB RailRoad
VGR, GGRS | |
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Semper Vaporo
1st Class Member
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Engineer
Posts:1525
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| | 08/26/2008 1:25 PM |
| Yes, the Bridge Builder Game has LOTS of shortcomings!  But it is total fun anyway AND it does work on real principles of design, construction and strength.
When I try to duplicate your bridge I am stuck using minimal strength materials for the distances that the program says I have to fit them to. The program is designed to force the user to select a design that uses the supplied material to span the fixed distance and then pass an engine and 3 car train over it "safely". Granted, it is more to watch the train go in the drink, but it is even more fun to watch the bridge collapse just as the train clears it. 
Your bridge is obviously built with materials strong enough to fit the purpose.
You can get the free version of the game at this "unofficial" fan site, here:
http://www.bridgebuilder-game.com/
as well as some add ons, cheats, and examples of other's solutions to the bridge puzzles. There are also some programs for designing your own terrain to have to fit a bridge to. Plus some examples of some of the weirdest Rube Goldburg contraption bridges you will ever see! Parts move to catch the train and swing it farther along to the next section. Other bridges flex and flop as the train pases over it. Folk have also found "bugs" in the program that allow you to "launch" the locomotive into space!
I think the game was discussed here on MLS a few years ago.
The company of the author of the game has several advanced (3-D graphics!) versions of the program that you can buy ($19.95 each if you download from on-line) at:
http://www.chroniclogic.com/
I do not have any of the full versions of the games so I cannot vouch for whether they are any good. The free version has some minor shortcomings in the user interface, but I don't know how they were addressed in the advanced programs.
Standard disclaimer applies: I don't know the author or the vendor and have no interest in the products other than I like to play the free version a lot.  | |
 C. T. McCullough
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Le 18:22
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Marauderer
1st Class Member
Powder Springs, GA
Foreman
Posts:138
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| | 08/26/2008 2:16 PM |
| | Your program is obviously based on sound bridge building principles as it said our bridge needed piers to be sound. You have now filled up my 09 with making this mod to our bridge. I will be on travel from the end of December till May. But, should be home the rest of the year. | |
Barry
BBKB RailRoad
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markoles
1st Class Member
Lancaster, PA
Conductor
Posts:882
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| | 08/26/2008 2:42 PM |
| Nice bridge!!
I agree with Vic. Supports would make it look better!
Mark | |
Mark Oles
Millersvillanova Railroad, Lancaster, PA | |
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NTCGRR
1st Class Member
Nebraska City NE
Engineer
Posts:1078
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| | 08/26/2008 3:22 PM |
| See, you can teach an old dog new tricks. Its taking the bridge to the next level.
thats why i try to get many folks to use GMM catwalks and railings it just "tricks" out the bridge much better. | |
Marty Cozad
North Table Creek GRR
Nebraska City, NE
Is it "REAL" or just 1:29 th | |
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Marauderer
1st Class Member
Powder Springs, GA
Foreman
Posts:138
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| | 08/26/2008 3:42 PM |
| | Whatdoyoumeanteachanolddognewtricks?Huh??? | |
Barry
BBKB RailRoad
VGR, GGRS | |
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gary Armitstead
1st Class Member
Burbank, CA
Foreman
Posts:478
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| | 08/26/2008 9:42 PM |
| 
This is the real Bridge on the River Kwai. I took this in August of 1967 while on R&R from my combat tour in Vietnam. Quite a few different types of construction in many spans. The mountains, to the west in the rear, are in Burma. This bridge is a railroad/pedestrian bridge.
I shot this when the local Thai narrow-gauge steam engine was coming from the east and heading across the bridge toward Burma to the west. | |
Gary Armitstead
Los Angeles Live Steamers
SA #4449 | |
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Marauderer
1st Class Member
Powder Springs, GA
Foreman
Posts:138
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| | 08/27/2008 6:01 AM |
| I have finally figured how to post the proper size pictures from my Pictures web site.
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Barry
BBKB RailRoad
VGR, GGRS | |
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