Black Bear Construction Co., Inc.  Trestle and Bridge Building Supplies for the Model Railroader

Choosing a Timber Bridge

The trestle bridge was always the preferred bridge because it is the cheapest and easiest to build.

The Howe Truss Bridge revolutionized timber bridge construction. It's structural integrity makes efficient use of wood's ability to withstand compressive stress. It is characterized by heavy members that lean inward. These inward leaning members and top chord carry compression. The vertical members (typically iron rods) and bottom chord carry tension. The outward leaning members aren't actually needed in static situations. However, the dynamic loading applied by a moving train makes them necessary. Just about every timber bridge built after the Civil War is a Howe Truss Bridge.

The deck bridge is the best choice if flooding or height makes a trestle impractical. A deck bridge puts all the structure under the rails where it won't get hit by a train.

If the clearance is insufficient (flowing water or track crossing underneath) a truss bridge is required. A pony truss has short side panels and can span up to 80 feet. A through-truss bridge (like Midwest Products' Fox River Bridge, below) can span up to 150 feet.

The Black Bear Arch Bridge is a "back woods" design that might have been common in the 1800's.

O Scale Price List ACCESSORIES The items can help you build your trestle and add detail to the finished product. S Scale RGS Trestle Materials Pack S & O Scale NBW Pack 25 Sprues, 20/Sprue, GL-5093 $10.00 MA-382 Mt. Albert O Scale Bridge Ties 8" x 8" x 10' Bridge Ties $30.60 500 to a bag. Includes 16 ea. 16' long refuge ties. More O Scale Ties from Mt. Albert Scale Lumber TRESTLE KITS and JIGS There are a lot of different trestle kits. You may want to use the TRESTLE SELECTION GUIDE to help you sort it out. Part No. Description Price Photos and Drawings TJK-5LO O/On3 Scale, 5 Leg Trestle Kit Builds both Narrow Gauge (On3) and Standard Gauge $84.53 OR TJ-5LO      O/On3 Scale 5 Leg Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $41.33 TJM-5LO      O/On3 Scale 5 Leg Trestle Materials Pack - Only $43.20 TJK-4RO On3 Scale, RGS Trestle Kit Based on the Gallagher Creek, CO, trestle. $108.65 TJ-4RO      On3 Scale, RGS Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $50.98 TJM-4RO       O Scale RGS Trestle Materials Pack - Only $57.67 TJK-4DNO On3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Kit Narrow Gauge trestle kit. $89.65 TJ-4DNO      On3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $40.43 TJM-4DO      O/On3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Jig Materials Pack - Only $49.22 TJK-4DSO O Scale, D&RGW Trestle Kit Standard Gauge trestle kit. $89.65 TJ-4DSO      O Scale, D&RGW Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $40.43 TJM-4DO      O/On3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Materials Pack - Only $49.22 TJK-4AO O Scale, Alamogordo & Sacramento Mtns. Trestle Kit Standard Gauge trestle kit. $109.42 TJ-4AO       O Scale, A&SM Trestle Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $51.16 TJM-4AO       O Scale A&SM Trestle Materials Pack - Only $58.26 On30 TRESTLE KITS and JIGS The jigs included in these kits are specially designed to build authentic looking On30 trestles. Notice that the jigs come in two sizes: Short and Tall TJK-4DOn30S On30 Scale, Short D&RGW Style Trestle Kit Short style Narrow Gauge trestle kit. An economical way to build an On30 Trestle.  Includes a short trestle jig and a materials half-pack. $53.12 TJ-4DOn30S       On30 Scale, Short D&RGW Style Trestle Jig Short Style Jig Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $26.79 TJM-4DOH       O/On3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Jig Materials Half-Pack - Only This materials pack has the same sizes of wood that come with all the other O scale D&RGW Kits - there's just half as much of it! $26.33 NOTE: You can substitute the full materials pack below (TJM-4DO) and pay the difference in price. TJK-4DOn30T On30 Scale, Tall D&RGW Style Trestle Kit Tall style Narrow Gauge trestle kit. A great way to build tall true frame On3 trestle bents.  Includes a tall trestle jig and a full materials pack. $89.65 TJ-4DOn30T      On30 Scale, Tall D&RGW Style Trestle Jig Tall Style Jig Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $40.43 TJM-4DO       O/On3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Jig Materials Pack - Only This is the full materials pack that comes with most of the other O scale D&RGW Kits. $49.22 NOTE: You can substitute the materials half pack above (TJM-4DOH) and save the difference in price. TJK-4ROn30S On30 Scale, Short RGS Style Trestle Kit Short style Narrow Gauge trestle kit. An economical way to build an On30 Trestle.  Includes a short trestle jig and a materials half-pack. $57.83 TJ-4ROn30S      On30 Scale, Short RGS Style Trestle Jig Short Style Jig Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $26.79 TJM-4ROH       O/On3 Scale, RGS Trestle Jig Materials Half-Pack - Only This materials pack has the same sizes of wood that come with all the other O scale RGS Kits - there's just half as much of it! $31.04 NOTE: You can substitute the full materials pack below (TJM-4RO) and pay the difference in price. TJK-4ROn30T On30 Scale, Tall RGS Style Trestle Kit Tall style Narrow Gauge trestle kit. A great way to build tall true frame On3 trestle bents.  Includes a tall trestle jig and a full materials pack. $98.10 TJ-4ROn30T      On30 Scale, Tall RGS Style Trestle Jig Tall Style Jig Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $40.43 TJM-4RO       O/On3 Scale, RGS Trestle Jig Materials Pack - Only This is the full materials pack that comes with most of the other O scale RGS Kits. $57.67 NOTE: You can substitute the materials half pack above (TJM-4ROH) and save the difference in price. ARCH BRIDGE KIT and JIG This "back woods" design is appropriate for logging operations or during the mid-1800's. ABK-O O/On3 Scale, Arch Bridge Kit Standard Gauge or Narrow Gauge. Includes piers to support the bridge. $74.17 Look at this account of building this kit in O scale. AB-O      O/On3 Arch Bridge Jig - Only $46.50 ABM-O      O/On3 Arch Bridge Materials Pack - Only $27.67 TRUSS BRIDGE KITS and JIGS This kit builds a lot of different bridges. TBK-O O/On3 Scale, Truss Bridge Kit Standard or Narrow Gauge. Includes piers for end supports. Can be built in any one of three different designs. $78.41 TB-O      O/On3 Scale Truss Bridge Jig - Only - Includes all the instructions and drawings you need. $46.50 TBM-O      O/On3 Scale Truss Bridge Materials Pack - Only - Enough materials to build any one of the three designs. $31.91 MW-3060 Cedar Falls O Scale, Truss Bridge Kit Midwest Products Skill Level 1. O Scale Standard Gauge. Based on the Hermosa Creek Bridge. All wood is pre-cut or notched. MSRP: $49.95 $42.46 DECK BRIDGE KITS and JIGS This bridge looks great sitting in the middle of a trestle. DBK-O O/On3 Deck Bridge Kit Extend the bridge out the end of the jig to make it longer. $89.06 DB-O      O/On3 Scale Deck Bridge Jig - Only $58.14 DBM-O      O/On3 Scale Deck Bridge Materials Pack - Only $30.92

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Austin, TX 78755-0911
(512) 467-8400 FAX:(512) 985-5110