N&W Bridges -- Guidance Sought for a Unique N&W Prototype

[NW Modeling List]

I can’t address N&W switches on bridges but can point you to a switch on a bridge over the Pidgeon River in Canton NC on former Southern Murphy Branch.  Used 24/7 by Blue Ridge Southern.  While not N&W, when space limitations required “creative solutions”, putting points on a bridge was common.  I suspect the tight quarters in N&W’s hollers often resulted in cramming bridges, switches, wyes, etc. into places that drove the engineering departments nuts.

 

Jim King

http://smokymountainmodelworks.com/

 

From: NW Modeling List <nw-modeling-list at nwhs.org> 
Sent: Sunday, August 9, 2020 11:37 AM
To: NW-Modeling-List at nwhs.org
Subject: N&W Bridges -- Guidance Sought for a Unique N&W Prototype

 

My N&W HO scale layout is about 8.5’ x 4.5’.   It features the rugged terrain that covered much of the N&W service area, including numerous tunnels having the effect of expanding the visual size of the layout.  A prominent feature is a stream crossing the middle of the layout.  The numerous bridges crossing this stream are another visual interest feature of the layout.  On one side of the stream, a large coal mining complex located on a plateau surrounded by steep mountain terrain pays tribute to the N&W's historical association with the coal mining industry.  Recently I decided to locate a steam engine servicing area on the “other side” of the stream (in lieu of a planned community setting).  The steam engine serving center will include a scale 110’ turntable, three-stall roundhouse, and various other facilities.  This area will provide a much more interesting active area of interest than the originally planned community with a siding but little else by way of active operational potential.

 

The change in plan presented a problem, however.  The options for locating the large turntable and associated roundhouse were limited.  Positioning of those facilities would also dictate the location of the rest of the facilities and the track within the service area.  As it turned out, the most problematic issue involved the location of the track crossing the stream to enter this area.  That bridge was positioned such that I could not bring a 22” radius turn into proper alignment with the turntable without locating a turnout on the bridge itself.    The bridge is actually quite interesting in design and execution.   

 

My question is whether anyone is aware of a N&W prototypical bridge (of any kind — mine is a fairly typical girder bridge) that involved a turnout located on the bridge itself?  If there was no similar prototypical bridge on the N&W system, I will nevertheless be compelled to use this bridge to access the turntable within the steam engine serving area, but it would be nice to know whether this solution has any forebear in the prototypical world is wholly a function of necessity and the modeler’s imagination.  

 

Thanks for any guidance you can provide.  And please do not be too offended by this off-the-wall innovation (heresy?).  It is, after all, my layout and I can do what I want.  But still . . . a bridge with a turnout?  Really?  Keeping my fingers crossed.

 

Bill D                         

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