The Little River Rail Road in Doc Tom's Back Yard

[Doctor G]

I was able to get a little more work done on the bridge over the Little River. I am trying to recreate this style of bridge.





After much thought I decided to paint the steel structure black as all the prototype pictures I could fine showed the steel members were black. I also decided to lightly weather the bridge as it was in the late 1920's about 20 years after it was constructed.





I positioned the two 40 foot spans over Nelson's Gap on the Little River using a very temporary center pier and temporary attachments at both ends. I was thrilled It was strong enough to hold the first train over the chasm.







I think this picture looks a little like the prototype one above.



Next step as the weather warms is to build a concrete or concrete like pier similar to those above in the prototype. Ideas and comments are welcomed as the Little River RR advances a few more feet.

Thanks for looking.
Doc Tom


Doc Tom and the Little River RR guys in East Tennessee.

[Bill Nelson]

Tom,


Are you going to build a form, and cast the pier in place? if you do, get some re-bar considerably longer that the pier is tall, and drive it way down in the ground, before pouring the concrete, so the pier is firmly connected to the ground, as it would cause a multitude of unpleasant problems should it shift any. also you may want to paint or otherwise treat the rebar before installing it, as if it rusts later, the expansion can bust up concrete. that is some great work on the bridge sections, the best I've seen you do.


Nelson

[Doctor G]

Originally Posted by Bill Nelson

Tom,


Are you going to build a form, and cast the pier in place? if you do, get some re-bar considerably longer that the pier is tall, and drive it way down in the ground, before pouring the concrete, so the pier is firmly connected to the ground, as it would cause a multitude of unpleasant problems should it shift any. also you may want to paint or otherwise treat the rebar before installing it, as if it rusts later, the expansion can bust up concrete. that is some great work on the bridge sections, the best I've seen you do.


Nelson

Hi Bill,

Glad you liked the bridge. I am cogitating and ruminating what to do about the pier. Your ideas are good.

On the net I have been seeing mostly cast piers in trapezoid shapes. The prototype pictures show a more rectangular shape with triangles on the ends facing the flow of the river to avoid snags hanging up on the piers.

To cast this might be a bit tricky. I wondered about plastic lumber like on decks etc.??? If you got any ideas about this shape I am all ears.

Here is another choo choo pictured on the steel bridge at Nelson's Gap.
Thanks for all your encouragement. Tom

[Doctor G]

Mr "Dandy" Dan, chief design engineer of the Tennessee Bridge Co., from over in Nashville, can talk for hours to anyone who will listen on the benefits of deck truss bridge construction.



Boss Crumb and Col. Townsend try to feign interest as the concrete cures on the new bridge pier for the steel bridge.



The crew of #2147 are just glad the bridge remains perpendicular to the Little River below and they are dry.




Here's the "back story":

After much thought I elected to go with a trapezoid shaped concrete pier. I got the dimensions from the internet and built up a form using foam board secured with Titebond III glue and sheet rock screws.



Rapid set concrete mix from Lowes was mixed with water and poured in to the mold after trying to get it as plumb and level and attached to the rocks on the river's edge.





The foam mold was removed and the pier remained standing.



After a bit of time the bridge was reinstalled and "Dandy Dan" could resume his exposition on bridge building.



Doc Tom

[Bill Nelson]

Good Job with the concrete bridge piers. I'm glad you got brave enough to do it right, nothing else would have looked right, and got the shape right.



I really like that red truss rod flatcar, lots of detail there. that is looking real good.



Bill

[gbwdude]

Jesse and myself came to visit yesterday and operated both of the locomotives on Doc Tom's roster. I know for a fact that I personally liked operating the LRRR 0-4-0 #1 the best as it showed more of a challenge handling the cars up and down the grades. It was truly a great time.

Here's a few pictures of the "operating session".

Tyler

[Doctor G]

Great pics. I'm glad you guys liked playing around with BIG trains. Thanks also so much for the great Box Car in WRRY livery. That well made car will get a lot of use as the battery car for more additions to my roster.

Tom

[Doctor G]

Spring time on the Little River RR saw a lot of action at Nelson's Gap. Here is #2147 working the first load of logs this spring from the last cutting before the winter snows.







#1 got in some action too bringing the ballast car out from a work session on a winter damaged section of the line.







Doc Tom


Doc Tom and the Little River RR guys in East Tennessee.