N Scale Workshop

Image: John Marvig Railroad Bridge Photography

Introduction

I started looking for a new AP project after the regional NMRA convention in Brainerd last weekend and decided to go with the Prairie River Bridge. I will be scratch building it in N scale as part of the bridge requirement for the Master Builder - Structures certificate. This will be the second of six scratch-built structures. According to the requirements, "The remaining six, if not scratch built, must be super detailed with scratch built or commercial parts."

Prototype

The Prairie River Bridge crosses the Prairie River just east of Grand Rapids, MN on the mainline of the BNSF Lakes Subdivision. The bridge was built in 1899 by the Great Northern. The main span is a seven panel Warren deck truss which was strengthened with the addition of a third center truss in 1929. It is still in service and sees about eight trains per day.

Check out the BNSF Prairie River Bridge page by John Marvig for some pictures and information on the prototype. I will be basing much of the model on these photographs since the prototype is not easily accessible.

Project Articles

Check out these articles for more information on the Prairie River Bridge project.

• Test Girder
• End Posts
• Truss Assembly
• Truss Sides
• Floor Beams
• Truss Attachment
• Internal Braces
• Steel Towers
• End Braces
• End Details
• Wooden Deck
• Final Details