Bridge over (very) troubled water

I first saw the Lionel Bascule Bridge hanging from the ceiling at Madison Hardware.  It was the late 70's.  I had no idea what Madison was.  To me it was jut a place I could get my O27 engines repaired.  I did know that I wanted one of those bridges.

Later in life, as I commuted from Manhattan to Central Jersey and back, I realized there was a prototype for this bridge in the Meadowlands in East Rutherford.  I could see it from the Western Spur of the Turnpike.

Spin forward to 2001. I am building my current layout.  The Bascule Bridge has been reissued and it is easy to find one. Not only did it look great and operate well, but it sounded terrific, too.  I had located the scarce third party sound board built to work with it.  





The bridge gave me no problems until about 10 weeks ago when it malfunctioned.  It did not lower all the way, stopping about 1/2 inch short of the track.  This was not readily apparently from the operating positions.  I became aware when the City of Portland launched itself off the end of the ramp ski-jump style.

Messy.

Very, Very, Messy.

What to do?  This, alarmingly. is how my mind works.  I began listing options and then choosing which ones (PLURAL!) to work on.

1.  Leave the current bridge in place.  I could use my hand to get it back to level and would just forego having an operating bridge.

Rejected because...boring.

2.  Replace with a static bridge.  A lot of decent bridges out there.

Rejected because...see #1

3.  Repair the bridge myself.

Rejected because there are over 20 screws holding the bottom panels in place.  Very intimidating.

4.  Send out for repair.  I know someone in Denver who repairs accessories.

Viable .  Get it in motion.

5.  Replace with a new Bascule Bridge from the marketplace.

A very viable option. Probably the best install option.  Wiring in place.  Scenery is minimally disturbed  Just drop the new one in and hook it up.

6. Or. Ooorrr.... Replace with a completely different structure; a Lionel 213 Lift Bridge.

Certainly, the most difficult choice.  Naturally. This became the first choice.  I did not even know about this bridge until I saw it on one of Tom's Cornerfield Videos.  Thanks Tom!  I loved the action.  I have a soft spot for lift bridges.  The UP City of Portland would cross the Willamette River immediately after departing Portland's Union Station heading east for Chicago .  It was a fabulous moment, well lodged in my young memory.  Major disruption of current scenery.  Different wiring requirements.  Would need a different sound board (if one could be found).  Most difficult from a pure logistics perspective as it is located right in the middle of the layout.

Talk about fraught with problems.  Classic three steps forward and two steps back.  For example, decided to use one of Andre's switching Shantys as the bridge tender's office.  Had made 5 of his buildings, each with increasing success.  I thought it would be a snap.  The last one I made was the best kit I ever put together.  Apparently, i forgot everything I had learned.  It was a mess.  I got a new one and redid it.

I usually avoid buying used accessories, but thought I would save a couple of bucks.  WRONG.  The rail ends were damaged.  They were crimped.  I had to work to get them opened up enough to accept the Atlas joiners.  Took a bit of work and made me thankful for my battery powered Dremel.  

I am also thankful for deciding not to document all of the work I did.  I would have spent way too much time covering calamity

Cons - size.  it is big...much bigger than the other unit which kind of "fit in" with the other structures in that scene.  

Pros - looks great. Big gears turning at the top of the towers. Counterweights drifting up and down inside the towers. Gave me the opportunity to build some new scenes.


Anyway, it is done.  Here are some stills and a video.






Tender checking the night schedule as the City of Portland heads for the station


Maintenance work beginning on bridge