Arch Bridge Like Arley

[Peaky 556]

Hello all,
Reporting on my search for a decently priced laser cutting emporium, I am pleased to say that Accrofab of Derby have come up trumps, done exactly what I wanted (collected today) and for a very good price to boot.

Pictured below is one of the dozen transverse braces that connect the two arches, there being an arch supporting each side of the bridge deck.  As you will see I have had a bit of fun by incorporating my railway company logo (Apple Tree Railway) into each bit of steelwork!  That was an interesting exercise in teaching myself CAD, and very pleased I am too with the result. I would encourage anyone designing laser-cut pieces to personalise them too, after all it costs nothing extra to produce!

Also pictured are three of the 100-plus handrail stanchions that will march along the deck on both sides. The purpose of the big lump beneath will become apparent one day.

Cheers, Tim

[Peaky 556]

Sorry, here are the handrail stanchions, cut from 2mm sheet steel. Thick tinned copper wire at 2mm thick will form the actual railings.
Tim

[IanT]

This is going to be quite a bridge when it's finished Tim!

IanT

[MikeWilliams]

Very nice Tim.  How are you going to fix the steel parts together?  And any thoughts on rust prevention?

Mike

[Peaky 556]

Mike, there is some MIG welding of the corner joints within each segment of the arch, but the arches and braces will be joined using fairly chunky pop-rivets.  The pillars will be pop riveted at both ends.  The deck will have to be largely welded where the transverse beams join the longitudinal side channels, making something like a ladder.
As for corrosion protection I have nothing better in mind than a bit of phosphate coating around the difficult to get at joint regions (eg " Kurust"), then red lead primer spray (Halfords?) and finally car body top coat aerosols.
I have kept a close eye on the predicted all-up weight so that two people can lift it away for serious maintenance!
Regards, Tim

[John Candy]

Tim,

Would not a "zinc rich" primer be better ..... as a form of cold galvanizing?

Regards,
John.

[Peaky 556]

After a bit of tin-bashing to bend the return on the arch segments, here is a loose trial assembly of the first two segments of a 13-segment arch. I can almost imagine it being built out from one bank by a gang of Navvies!
Welding of the corners is yet to happen.
Tim

[Peaky 556]

Good evening, I'm still in the land of the living, despite an absence from this thread of over a decade! Other things have been built, like tunnels and viaduct, but now I've been revisiting the bridge during the winter and reached this stage. There should be a bit more about it in the forthcoming mag.