Create a elevated track [Forums - General]

On the FP Geotrax site they talk about how to create an elevated track section using a piece of straight track, 2 rails and stanchions. I cannot figure out how this works. Can anyone enlighten me and/or provide a picture of what the finished product looks like?
Thanks

I think what you're referring to is using two pieces of straight track, two ramps, two stanchions, and two guard rails. You put the two straights together, put a guard rail down each side to stiffen it, then put a ramp on each end, with a stanchion where each ramp attaches to the straights. It lets you span a longer distance without a stanchion where the two straights connect to each other. You would do this when it gets in the way of a track passing under, or if you only had two stanchions and need a longer elevated section. Is that what you meant? I'll post a pic if I can figure out how! Stephen

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Or, you could just make a few of these:
I used 1/2" Baltic Birch plywood, it has many thin plys and is considered "voidless". I tried using solid birch hardwood first, but the pieces are so skinny it would split along the grain no matter which way I oriented it. They're large enough between the legs that you can run track under them both directions.

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Bracketracer - Would you try to post the picture again. Seems like it didn't take. (maybe too big)

My issue with the 2 guardrail method is that it always seems to sag. Not enough to break the connection, but sometimes enough to cause derailment issues.

I never stick the ramps direct to the ends of this section as it makes the issue worse.

I can't remember who posted it, but someone also screwed a piece of thin aluminum plate stock under the 2 pieces to stiffen and lock them together. I wish you could still get the 9 inch sections from FP replacement parts; it would be fun to connect 2 and make an 18" bridge.

Sorry about the pics! I resized them now. Stephen

Cool, I like that. Simple, yet effective. Would you mind posting a second shot looking from the end to see what type of arch you used for the supports?

If you wanted, could dress it up with some thin balsa strips running vertical on the sides, to look like ribs.

You could paint it Silver to contrast with the other small trestle bridges GeoTrax makes.

Thanks! I thought about painting them, but I would need to figure out how to pry them away from my three year old! I was basically looking for something quick and easy that he could help assemble, we did it as a Saturday morning project together. As you can see, I had to put a relief at the top of the arch for clearance for the power button. It all cleared fine on the workbench, but when it sunk into the carpeting on the floor the train snagged. The height is the same as a stanchion so everything fits, the length is the same as the overall length of two "six inch" pieces of straight track, it's thirteen inches. These appear to be quite sturdy, our 18 month old uses them as steps to boost himself onto the couch when they're not being used in the layout. Now that we have two functional bridges, I might try something a bit more artistic. Maybe a double decker like the Eads bridge here in St. Louis? http://bridgepros.com/projects/eads/ . I want to build a covered bridge too, and the little guy wants a train shed built to put off the back of his roundhouse.

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