Modeling the Huge "F" Scale Trestle at Garagemahal - Part One - The Trestle Deck

[@ATSFVentaSpurNscaler]

It's good to have friends with wood-working shops in their basements. Thank you, Steve. And thank you Dale and Karyn for guiding us, your devoted viewers, through part one of your Colorado & Southern RR trestle construction project! I can't wait to see part two. -from Tom Pilling

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi again!!! Thanks! Yup we have a “table saw” but not for accurate measurements and a hundred cuts. So THANK YOU STEVE!!

[@daviemaclean61]

Wow! There's at least an afternoon's work in that! That's a lot of calculation and logistics before you even start, and, of course, heaven forbid you'd build it in a straight line. Absolutely love it. Cheers

[@loispadgett6306]

That turned out great can't wait for the next step in this build. I like that you stained the bottom too. Zonk GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖 Have a great day see you Tuesday.

[@doctordeath.5716]

Great Simon and Garfunkel song, bridge over trouble water. Makes me wonder how many people caught on to it in hear.

[@garyacker7388]

Yeah she's really good at those quips 😅. Trestles have always fascinated me so I'm really enjoying your wonderful work.

[@154Colin]

Looks terrific 👍👍

[@robertlucido3686]

I made a couple of ballasted deck bridges on my layout, and on the N gauge level I'm custom making a couple of bridges for that level

[@kenshores9900]

Dale:If ever I am blest to see your castle, I will be sure to get a mirror and inspect the underside of your trestle. Way cool! Waiting with baited breath for your next installment! Cheers and rail on!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi Ken! See you tomorrow. Building bents.

[@joellekarma]

I have one of those rail benders I bought it years ago and it is real hand for bending stainless rail. I dont do G scale anymore but its good to have for other projects.

[@terryh5526]

Greaat to see Steve again!

[@KandRCustomModels]

Very nice!

[@jamesburns0657]

WOW! Beautiful work and by the way did I say WOW!?

[@Big.Al.3]

Great video . Can't wait to see the finished bridge..

[@Santafefrank]

That looks great. Just love a wooden trestle. Thanks for showing it.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Right!!?? The biggest the bestest.

[@davegillen8437]

tip of my day thanks to you all, using my wood glue which is runny with a drop of medium thick super glue, thanks

[@vettebecker1]

This is awesome, I’ve always had a place for large wooden trestles. They were real pieces of engineering, supporting the kind of weight they did

[@ToyManTelevision]

Indeed! Few around anymore. But when you find them… wow!!

[@krissfemmpaws1029]

Very nice work and it should look good when it's done. The term bent come from timber framing, the framing technique has been around long before trains were in existence. A bent is a completed cross frame of the timber framing of a home or building they can be put up as one piece or in sections to make a complete frame or skeleton of the structure. Of course steel and concrete has replaced wood in large buildings for some time but much of the terminology is still used today in heavy construction.

[@ToyManTelevision]

I wonder why “bent”? Truss.. sure. Peir.. I get that. But bent… bent?

[@caseyvillemodelrailroad3877]

Great vidio, going to be the center piece of the layout.Thanks for the coffee...

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks for watching! As always!!

[@caseyvillemodelrailroad3877]

Got ta watch and see what mischief you two are up too.

[@LearnwithJanice]

Hello from rural Kansas 🇺🇸

[@robertdavies5501]

Oops should have waited :)

[@lifeisagift.cherisheverymoment]

Very nice looking trestle.

[@robertrussell2166]

Just an excellent episode and I will be watching it more than once. The trestle on my railroad is getting old and worn out and my thought was to just buy another because the company that builds them is still in business but building my own will fit the spot better than a prefabricated version. Once again your level of detail is outstanding and someday I hope to see it in person.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. And they are FUN TO BUILD!!

[@scootosan]

Educational video. That will be a very nice feature to your RR.

[@FuelFire]

That looks amazing! Can't wait to see the finished bridge!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Us too!! But mostly enjoying the building of it. But dang… it’s coming out nice!

[@kenshores9900]

Dale: Do you have a reference on trestles? Karyn: Gurds are a construction thing! And yes it is a very strange name as is the term gird (roof stabilization beams. Dale: This looks great! Are you going to do a video on making painting it?

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi Ken. Yup. Several parts. Sunday are the bents. Then we fall back and punt. Because I only have one abutment built. And about 10 square feet of cliff. So we will jump to mirrors. Mirrors? Yup. Because we needed to Instal the huge one in the big canyon before I can build the rest of the canyon. And so we are doing all the mirrors at once. A week from tomorrow.

[@doctordeath.5716]

This is really cool and great craftsmanship building this trustal bridge. I really like it.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. And thank you again!!!

[@gardenrailroading]

That is Beautiful, great look!

[@samfuller6273]

So cool

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!

[@ThatBIGTRAINGuy]

This is a bit of an epic build!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hello!!! Oh all our projects get away from us. The east abutment needed a wall. And that said mine. And that said tunnel. And that…. So months later I’m still working on the east abutment. Sigh.

[@ThatBIGTRAINGuy]

@@ToyManTelevision Well at least it's other projects getting in the way of projects. My obstacles are much less fun at the moment.

[@vincenttolve9756]

Excellent work by an accomplished craftsman - and teacher. I hope at some time you describe how you did the brickwork on the tunnel portal. Thanks for the ongoing education.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Super simple. I bought it. Sigh. But it is hand made. Styrofoam. With wood strips for the caps. The mortar lines are carved in. But they are perfect. So not sure how they did that.

[@billpihl1]

Dale, I always say what a great artist Karyn is but in your own right you are a great artist yourself only in different areas. AND keep the puns coming, they always make me laugh. You guys are toooooo much LMAO.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!! This is such a HUGE PROJECT. Many many hours of fun!

[@vincenthuying98]

Dear Dale and Karyn, absolutely marvelous, magnificent and beautiful trestle. Love the trestle dictionary part, with all the appropriate denominations for all the different sections of the trestle. If only for that part, I’m definitely gonna save your vid. Very curious for upcoming progress and next episodes! Cheerio

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hi. Thanks. Tomorrow we show building the bents. It’s slow going. Which is fun and so all good!!!! And it’s finally stopped snowing! And warming up. They say almost 80° on Tuesday. ???? But it just barely stopped snowing…

[@ratfink55]

Nicely done sir!

[@beast1624]

Fascinating! Thanks for sharing!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@growclipbonsaiforseniors1951]

This is a magnificent little tutorial of the accuracy and patience you have in doing this massive project. This is going to be a true masterpiece by a master builder.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Wow!! Gee thanks!!!

[@jeffbangkok]

Amazing

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks

[@toddainsworth795]

Geat looking trestle and instructional video. You have illustrated the process nicely and included technical construction drawings. Nicely done, glad to see you using Watco oil stains for a long-lasting finish. You might also try using Titebond Waterproof glue for your exterior trestles if you have any, I have seen exterior carpenters use this product, seems to work well. Love your use of Red Cedar !!!!!!

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup! The tight bond is great. Inside I’m using the basic yellow. But outside I’m using gorilla glue outdoor glue. Basically the exact same thing as the tightbond.

[@FlakusCorporation]

Good stuff! I built F-scale trestles for outside out of old cedar fence boards, and I’ll have you know they do just fine outside. Mine are based on V&T practice; I studied the three of them in Washoe Canyon just north of here in Carson City just a year before they burned to the ground in 2012. A word on paint: I don’t know what the Rio Grande did, but the V&T painted everything in Red Oxide, which was not necessarily a paint so much as it was a wash. Following prototype, I diluted my oil-based, color-matched Red Oxide paint with boiled linseed oil. This not only stains the wood to a flat red/brown, but leaves the grain faintly visible, while the linseed oil penetrates deep into the cell structure of the wood itself.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Super!!!! I’m using old fence wood too. The outside tunnel portal is cedar fence with some years of weather. Love the look! Like the idea for color.

[@FlakusCorporation]

But just wait till you do it to redwood! It’s a showstopper!!

[@FlakusCorporation]

But just wait till you do it to redwood! It’s a showstopper!!

[@FlakusCorporation]

But just wait till you do it to redwood! It’s a showstopper!!

[@TheSonofruss]

I am surprised that you didn’t try for a natural grey weathered look on the trestle. CSX mad has a couple of videos on how he built his trestles using steel wool and if I remember correctly vinegar

[@organbuilder272]

Very nice work. Looks real as well. A good machinist could make a duplicate of the rail bender. The tricky part is the rollers and the contour of the rail shape that must be cut into them - but that is simple lathe work. the rest is done on a mill.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup. I hope the get it back on the market!!

[@harrildrailroads5584]

Now, that’s a fine job! And a very informative video - I feel attepted to build one (for my garden layout), as variation to the many welded iron bridge sections. 🚂🤔

[@ToyManTelevision]

Fun. And mostly simple. And the way I build them 100% weather proof.

[@toki_-_wartooth]

you guys are so inspiring, and your models always look superb. Greetings from the UK :)

[@ToyManTelevision]

Hello back across the pond! Thanks again!!

[@royreynolds108]

The side guard rails are actually for keeping the ties spaced. Many were cut or dapped to fit over and between the ties. Bridge ties are normally 8 X 8 x10' or 8 X 8 X 8.5' for 3-ft gauge spaced 12 inches on centers. The stringers on the RGS and other railroads at that time would have had a spacer between each line of stringers making each set to let water drain to help dry the timber. Almost all of the bolts would have been 3/4 inch diameter X whatever length needed. The timbers would have not been treated until after 1900. The washers were, still are, ogee-shaped cast iron to fit the bolts(google these, they are still available). Unless the curve of the track was very sharp, the stringers were laid so the joints were not on the same cap of a bent but staggered. They were held in place by a 3/4-inch steel pin driven through a stringer into the cap, one for each stringer set at each bent. Each sill would have a 3/4-inch pin driven through it into each post below. The bents would have been 14', 14' 6", or 15' on centers and the stringer timbers would have been 28', 29', or 30' long. The caps, sills, and posts would have been 12 X 12. Each story would be 15 or no more than 20 feet. If the bent was not driven with piles, the foundation would have been driven with piles(cut off flush), laid rocks, or cast concrete with a sill over that. Sway bracing and/or longitudinal bracing would have been 4 X10 or 12. The batter or lean of the outside posts or piles would be 1 on 6 or 1 over for every 6 vertical. There are a number of good standard plans and plans of full-size trestles available online and in magazines.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Thanks!!! Yup I didn’t use spacers as don’t need them and really doesn’t show unless you lay on the floor! Thought about it though. But this is so much simpler to build. I am pinning the cap as per prototype for the same reason.

[@BCSchmerker]

+ToyMan *I sure hope ye provided for flange rails on the bridge project discussed this video.* The ideal execution would be composed of piers directly below the rails and stringers; bridge ties wide enough for safety rails; and horizontal caps and sills, slightly diagonal bents, and four-way braces for stability.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Yup! I’m mostly following RGS practices. But need the cheat a bit for space. But for the most part, RGS. Interesting to research the design and engineering that went into this. And recreate it in miniature.

[@robertdavies5501]

I have to repeat Awesome .... Are you going to install check rails ??

[@roystevens4333]

I thought you were going with an RGS design but then put your guardrails inside the running rails. RGS typical practice was to put the guardrails OUTSIDE the running rails. Also they didn't use fire barrels.

[@robertweldon7909]

Why do railroads use strange names for things and terms? Well, I don't know for sure, but it all may be similar to sailing terminology. They call everything by a unique term, thereby making misunderstanding minimal. On a ship, everything is takin from looking down the ship from the bow to stern, Right being called PORT (red). left being STARBOARD (green). So from the bridge, looking forward, right is on the left and left is on the right Ya right. I was told that they called right Port because Port wine is red, and red starts with "R" just like right, making it easy to remember. The same applies to locomotive marker lights. Looking forward from the cab, the green light marker is on the right (left) and the red marker is on the left (right) Calling everything by a unique term reduces confusion etc. I may be completely wrong, but I'm used to Navy TERMS, nearly everything has a unique term or name. This is a super project. I'm looking forward to more. ;-)

[@kennethkolman7367]

I use brass rod for brazing cut to the length and threaded each end to 4_40 have been holding nicely outside for years and they even change to a nice patina and it was not all that expensive for $20 got about a pound of 3 foot long rods

[@ToyManTelevision]

Interesting idea!!

[@reddog-ex4dx]

Next time you should call Loram to come and set your tie plates. Or call up BNSF, or UP, or NS and ask them if you can borrow their MOW's.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Naw. This is much more fun.

[@tomas5376]

What’s the name of the decked over canyon?🚂🚂🚂

[@ToyManTelevision]

Well I keep changing it. But as of now Animas Cañón. Or Cañada Grande. Or…

[@tomas5376]

@@ToyManTelevision maybe you could call it Copper Canyon which is an incredibly beautiful canyon in Mexico!

[@davidwayneprins]

"F" scale? As in Freaking Awesome? Seriously, my dad's been talking for years about building a trestle for his garden railway. Three feet high and 20 feet long where the train exits through the basement wall and crosses where a pond would be to a raised area with retaining walls The nut and bolt prices have held him as well.

[@ToyManTelevision]

Wow. That’s cool

[@davidhall8874]

What the hell is F scale

[@ToyManTelevision]

1:20.3. Bachmann large scale.

[@77thTrombone]

Some comments • I get building it from the top down _in principle,_ but in practice?!?? The mind boggles. Are you working on a jack-up table, maybe with a drywall or plywood tabletop cut to fit portal-portal? • so much attention to precision, and then you clamp the outboard stringer to the inboard one? Sacre Bleu! 🤦‍♂️