HO Scale (1:87) ExactRail 72' Plate Girder Bridge, SP

ExactRail is proud to offer the first ready-to-run Deck Plate Girder Bridge properly dimensioned for mainline service!

Plate Girder bridges are the most common type of railroad bridge in North America, and the E-72 load rating has been a common mainline standard from the 1940's. Yet, there haven't been any E-72 deck-type plate girder bridges available as ready-to-run models! ExactRail is pleased to fill this void with the all-new 72' Deck Plate Girder Bridge.

About the Prototype:
The practice of North American railroads for determining the load capacity of steel bridges is through Cooper's E Loadings system. When developed, the index was based on the axle loading of locomotives. The prefix 'E' in the rating system indicates what weight a structure may support per locomotive axle. For example, an E-72 rated bridge is one which may support a locomotive of 72,000 lbs per axle. The index was a function of locomotive axle weight because, at the time Theodore Cooper devised the formulae, the locomotive was the heaviest part of a train. From the 1920's until the present, the E-72 load rating has developed into the common mainline standard.

About the Model:
ExactRail's Plate Deck Girder Bridge has been carefully dimensioned from actual prototypes so that we may offer the most accurate 72' Deck Plate Girder Bridge. So to accommodate a seamless transition between the bridge track and adjacent mainline, we've opted for a section of bridge ties to which the modeler affixes rail. We recommend cutting a section of ties from flex-track and gluing the rail to the bridge ties with Barge cement. Barge cement is available from hardware and home improvement stores and may also be found online.

Dimensions:
1.36" : Vertical dimensions from the top face of the tie plate to the bottom face of the lower cover plate. Please see pictures.
1.16" : Vertical dimensions from the top face of the upper cover plate to the bottom face of the cover plate. Please see pictures.
1.29" : Width dimension between the outside faces of girder plates.