Trout Brook Bridge - Official Work Thread

[John McNamara]

With regard to plexiglass, would it make sense to replace a section of the sheathing with a sheet of plexiglass so that visitors can see the truss inside?

We could also photograph the assembly process and produce a couple of very large poster prints for display nearby. Another possibility would be a small (or full-size) model of the truss, again for display nearby (but out of visitor camera range).
-John M

[Carl G. Soderstrom]

I too like the acrylic covering idea. But maybe just a 4' X 8" window.

Are the abutments to be just poured concrete? Or can they be dressed to look like Dressed Stone?
Ideally it would be dressed Stone. Is anything left of the original abutments? I don't remember from previous
pix. None seen in latest.

[Roger Cole]

Does the bridge have to be set in place by Dec 31 or just reassembled and ready to go?

[Alex Harvilchuck]

Now that the embargo is over ...

What was the result of the core samples? Were both ends sampled, the other forum entry only talked about the north side. Since it was implied the bridge isn't quite long enough to fully span Trout Brook, what is the approach going to look like? Fill? Trestle? Poured concrete abutments with forms or precast sections with poured concrete infill?

Did someone do an artist's representation?

Inquiring engineers are interested...

[James Patten]

Just reassembled and ready to go (more than likely somewhere on the Sheepscot Campus).  Before anything happens onsite, we need to get permitted through Town of Alna, DEP, Army Corps, etc.  It may actually sit there for a year or so.

[Alex Harvilchuck]

So the December 31 funding deadline is just to get Barns & Bridges of New England to resize the bridge to 10' wide? It wasn't clear what needed to be done by the deadline.

Oh, and the actual bridge prior to the fire at it's original location in NH ...

[Wayne Laepple]

In reply to Carl's comment above, that's what I was thinking. Just one section to illustrate what the "interior" of the covered section looks like, obviously on the track side so folks on the train can see it.

[Mike Fox]

Question. Was plexiglass around in 1910? No. The trusses will not be visible through any plexiglass at all unless the train is stopped.

[Wayne Laepple]

Seems to me that a plexiglass panel in the bridge would reinforce one of our tenets: education of our visitors. It would not detract from the view of the bridge if it were on the inside of the cover, and since the train would be slowing for the station stop, folks could at least get a glimpse of the truss design if they wanted to look.

[Joe Fox]

A few things to mention to not make it seem like money raised this year will sit around for an unknown time span. With the necessary funds to do site prep work, permits, etc. Work will begin as soon as it makes sense and the museum doesn't want a bridge sitting in the parking lot, or other valuable location for years on end. By installing the bridge hopefully next year, this will literally be one less bridge we have to fill when the tracks get there, thus speeding up our track laying efforts considerably.

[Alex Harvilchuck]

Wayne,
We could do a 25% scale model (10ft long vs. 46ft for the actual) of one of the trusses at the "Trout Brook Station" near the RT 218 crossing. We could either 3-D print the cast iron nodes or actually cast them at Catskill Castings in Greene/Walton, NY or at Cattail near you.

The scale model would be a great avenue for the fundraising, a plaque could be put on / near the model to acknowledge the donors without being in any photos taken near the bridge.

The scale model could also be used as an exhibit to interpret the history of the bridge and the science/engineering behind Howe's design. We might even be able to do some interactivity with the exhibit. We would then have a science exhibit and it might open some additional avenues for fundraising.

Alex

[Alex Harvilchuck]

By installing the bridge hopefully next year, this will literally be one less bridge we have to fill when the tracks get there,

Does that mean that it is "A Bridge Not too Far"? I still think that is a cool name for the Fundraising Campaign.

[Rick Rowlands]

Why not make part of the track side sheathing into a door that could be opened to show the interior structure?  Keep closed to protect the structure, then swing it open on operating days.  That would be more of an early 20th century solution than plexiglas.

[Wayne Laepple]

I LIKE that idea, Rick!

[Mike Fox]

Rick, I had that exact same idea, but lacking the time to really try and get the idea across..