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A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements usually forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads.
Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges. The basic types of truss bridges shown in this article have simple designs which could be easily analyzed by 19th and early 20th-century engineers.
A more complex truss bridge is the Queen Elizabeth II Bridge, crossing the River Thames in London.
There are three general types of truss bridges:
1. Deck truss: A truss that carries traffic on its upper level or “deck”.
2. Through truss: A truss in which the upper and lower chords (the top and bottom members of the truss) are parallel.
3. Pony truss: A truss in which the upper chord is shorter than the lower chord.
In addition, there are many other specialized types of truss bridges, such as the Vierendeel truss, which has no diagonal members.
10 Best Type Of Truss Bridge
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Product Name
Features
Price
Bachmann E-Z Track Truss Bridge with Blinking Light — HO Scale
For use with Steel Alloy and Nickel Silver Bachmann E Z Track
The Bachmann Truss Bridge with Blinking Light makes it easy to add a bridge to your track layout. Use the bridge to add a realistic passage over bodies of water, roads or another rail line. The bridge works off of track power so there’s no wiring required.
Can be used with the Graduated or Tall Pier Sets. Whether for your first train set or for more advanced layouts Bachmann HO Scale E-Z Track makes setting up easy. Each section combines track and roadbed into a single piece, with snap-fit assembly and plug-in wiring to provide instant railroad fun.
A hidden locking feature holds sections securely together until you’re ready to take them apart. Easy to set up on any surface, including floors and rugs, no special tools, nails or boards are needed.
Steel-alloy rail is easy to keep clean and corrosion free with normal indoor use. Molded black roadbed is used on steel alloy track and is fully compatible with gray-roadbed nickel silver track. A great track system for Christmas displays or permanent layouts.
As reference, 12 sections of curved 18″ radius track make a full circle; 16 sections of curved 22″ radius track make a full circle. Truss Bridge with Blinking Light matches the length of one 9″ standard straight track section.
See the wide variety of available Bachmann HO Scale E-Z Track roadbed-style track.
What’s good about this product is it made the heart of a 9 year old boy sing. What’s bad about this product is his Grandma got to put it together, and it wasn’t a lot of fun. Diagram of how it goes together, no written help here.
Just put on your trifocals and face the music. It looks flimsy, but it does seem to hold it’s own once you get it all snapped together. Hint, lay the side down flat and fit into the rail piece then swing the side up and into place.
After several thousand tries and a few mumbled oaths, it will snap together. I promise.
Don’t be frustrated if your unit doesn’t light cause either did mine and I bought 2 bridges. BUTT ! bottom section make sure the copper tabs are bent away from track rail,the copper strip coming down bend outward towards the rail carefully assemble the side piece,lining up the bridge tabs and snap into place.
Do same to other side. Now the top piece make sure the copper tabs are bent slightly upwards and make sure there are no gaps between the copper strips and the light unit contact panels. now snap together and should work! Mine at this point works as advertised.
A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss. This truss is a structure of connected elements forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads.
Truss bridges are one of the oldest types of modern bridges. The basic types of truss bridges shown in this article have simple designs which could be easily analyzed by nineteenth and early twentieth century engineers.
A truss bridge is economical to construct owing to its efficient use of materials. Includes One Code 80 Through Truss Bridge Kit Painted Silver Easy Assembly Highly Detailed Prototypical Bridge Track Code 80 Version Works With #2541 and #2542 Pier Sets Code 80 Clearance Is 1-3/8″ Wide x 1-15/16″ High Measures 10″ x 1-11/16″ x 2-3/4″.
At first glance I was skeptical, as the floor bed of the bridge, and the provided track, are in 2 pieces. However, they all come together very tightly and nicely. I used plastic model glue to bring it all together, although it “snaps” together without it.
Key is using the (very tiny) screws provided, to secure the track to the under girders.
Easy to assemble, and although it says no glue necessary, glue IS needed when assembling the top of the truss. This bridge is exactly what I was looking for, and thankfully, someone had one in stock when everyone else had it backordered.
Atlas makes a great trestle bridge that worked perfectly for my setup. The whole bridge was assembled in approximately 10 minutes and I used spot CA at the joints to firm everything up.
Put together this Code 83 Warren Truss Bridge Kit and add it to your HO layout to get your trains over rivers and dales. You can snap together any number of these bridges in any arrangement to form your own design or to realistically replicate an existing bridge structure.
Product will functionally serve its purpose but is lightly made. If you want a truss bridge that is more sturdy or has more fidelity I would keep looking.
The Atlas HO Scale Code 100 65′ Warren Truss Bridge is based on a commonly used bridge used across North America. The bridge is supplied with Code 100 nickel silver rail on its deck surface and is compatible with all Code 100 track.
For track planning purposes it is 9″ long – the same size as a standard piece of straight Snap Track. The 65′ Warren Truss Bridge is one of many Atlas HO Scale structures.
I now have 10 of these strung together to make one big long bridge. The picture below is from before I replaced the plate girder approach spans. Originally 6 bridge kits long it is now 10 kits long. Supports were made with stone paper wrapped around a piece of 1×2 pine strapping.
I like this bridge kit because it is well designed to snap together and it appears to be designed as a modular kit so I’m hoping to see other types offered in the future. Much better than the first release.
There are bridges at each railway. In a model railway set attractive eye-catchers. This prototypical model of a top Belt Bridge has imitation rivets and a sleeper transition for pedestrians. For use with straight LGB-tracksThis text is machine translated.
This is an O Scale Truss Bridge with Flasher and Piers from Lionel. Suitable for Ages 14 & Older. If the picture doesn’t match the title, then go with the title.
With the exception of the plate that holds the train track, the bridge is made of plastic. If you aren’t very careful you can break some of the tabs that hold the bridge sections together. I guess I was expecting something a little more substantial from Lionel.
Having said this, because of the size restrictions on my layout, I was not able to use the pier sections so the bridge is not elevated at all. I was happy to see that my Fast Track fit without any modifications.
The detailed plastic mouldings even including the bolt heads. Supplied in packs of two pairs. Two or more can be used to build an impressive viaduct. Supporting piers can be constructed from Peco stone walling sheets.
Length:143mm. Note that no deck parts are supplied, these sides are designed to be cosmetic only.
Typical quality Peco product. It would be nice if there was more molding detail (rivets etc) on the reverse side of each truss. It would also be nice if Peco produced smaller strengthening girders for the underside of a bridge.
One great advantage for me was that this allows construction of a bridge over a curve in the underneath 2 track line, where standard card or plastic over rail bridges are not wide enough.
Add this Warren Truss Bridge to your N scale layout to get your trains over rivers and dales. It’s the same length as a standard 5 inch straight track section. You can snap together any number of these bridges in any arrangement to form your own design or to realistically replicate an existing bridge structure.
This HO scale Double Track Bridge is super detailed and will look great on your diorama, layout, or mantle. The model, as built from the plans, spans over 29 inches.
Here’s the good: This bridge is highly detailed, very realistic, and will surely be a centerpiece for any layout. Here’s the bad: The kit is not designed very well. The girders, which make up the bulk of the bridge, are not manufactured to size.
You need to assemble each half, let them dry overnight and then cut each one to a template, and it’s very difficult to get it all square. Many pieces, including the main girders should have been manufactured to the exact size, with ends that are made to interlock rather than the blunt ends that result from cutting that don’t fit well into the adjoining piece.
Because many pieces are cut, only small steps can be done at one time, then everything has to sit for hours or overnight until you can go back and work on it again. Some pieces, especially the small angled girders are so tiny you need small fingers or you need to be very steady with tweezers, and I wouldn’t even attempt it without a head mounted magnifier so you can see how the pieces interlock.
Many pieces are attached to the plastic molds with way too many tabs that have to be painstakingly filed down- this was probably the most work of the entire assembly. 2 steps are missing in the instructions and one section relating to girder assembly is so confusing I just skipped it and assembled them on the template without following the steps in the instructions.
The instructions are written with several grammatical errors and several pieces are stamped “in memory of Jack” which is just weird. So if you want a really nice bridge and don’t mind spending over $100 and investing a couple of weeks worth of evenings into it you’ll probably be satisfied in the end.
But when I say this is the most complicated and difficult model I’ve ever assembled in my entire life, it’s an understatement.
Thus is a craftsman kit. It is not for a beginner as there’s a lot to be done during construction. Would buy more if I needed them build up very nicely just take your time be patient and you can have a great looking bridge also.
Central Valley has been a name of quality since the late 1950 or early 1960’s and put out superior car trucks, cars, which of course are still quality today. Now Central Valley puts out superior Bridge kits made of plastic injection that is not only strong but accurately portrays the steel used in the bridges.
Central Valley is easy to work with and I extended my bridge 3 center sections to make it a total of 36 inches long.
There are many different types of truss bridges, and each has its own advantages and disadvantages. The most common type of truss bridge is the Warren truss, which is known for its simple design and ease of construction.
However, Warren truss bridges are not as strong as other types of truss bridges, and they are not suitable for spans longer than about 100 feet. Pratt truss bridges are stronger than Warren truss bridges, and they can be used for spans up to about 300 feet.
Howe truss bridges are even stronger than Pratt truss bridges, and they can be used for spans up to about 400 feet.
