Mark, Your point is well taken and in fact was my first concern when I thought about using the stone piers. It seemed unlikely to me. The truth is that I had that bridge laying around from a previous layout. I had already built the benchwork and roadbed in that area when I unpacked that bridge and found it was the right length for that span. However, its bents were to short. I considered building new bents and that may be the right thing to do. I wrestled with the idea of what else I could do instead. I had three other bridges to build which also span that river, so decided to go ahead and put this one on piers. I had asked Blake for his opinion and he thought it was plausible, but couldn't referance an example. So I ask any fellow Gauge members if they can provide any prototype situation which would help justify what I am going to do regardless! In regard to those other three bridges, a deck girder carrying the double track main is finished except for weathering its concrete piers, another wooden trestle for the Garfield branch is approaching completion, its deck has running rails laid (with tie plates and four spikes per tie, what was I thinking) its bents are built, just need to install guard rails, wood walkway and railing and a lot of bolt/washer castings, and the fourth is a road bridge nearing completion as well. I need to get the bridges in place so I can finish the riverbanks prior to pouring the river itself.
I'm glad you edited your post, I did see the original last night but was too tired to respond. I should tell fellow members that Mark and I know each other and ...kind of understand each other. He's a dick, a dick, a big fat dick. Not to be misconstued as flaming, its just a blast from the past.
Mark, with the weather due to improve soon you should consider coming up one weekend day, I'll have Blake over to do some operating.
