Modeling Chesapeake & Ohio bridge and tunnel warnings

Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Magazine, Dec 2001 by Wiley, Chris

Back in the days of roof walks on freight cars and railroad personnel "walking the train," tell-tales were a very important signal used to warn crew members standing atop a moving train of an upcoming bridge or tunnel that had "low clearance".

The Prototype

C&O Standard Drawing R-579-A (reproduced on pages 18 and 19) provides a great deal of information about these structures. The standard stated that generally, these warning posts were to be placed not less than 100 feet nor more than 300 feet from a structure over the main line and mainline sidings. For yard or switching tracks, the warning posts were to be placed not less than 50 feet and not more than 100 feet from the overhanging structure. It furthermore specifies that the rope shall hang 12-112" below the clearance line of the obstruction.

Tell-tales were made of bronze rod and bronze tube through which a water-- proofed, braided cotton 5/16" diameter rope was inserted. Bronze pieces were attached to the end of the rope lengths to prevent unraveling. The support arms for the tell tales were made of oak or ash, the support bracket made from 1-1/2" T-section, and the post fabricated from "extra-heavy pipe."

An N-Scale Model

Gold Medal Models offers a set of eight N-scale tell-tales of two types for use as low-clearance warnings. Item #160-36, Low Clearance Tell-Tales, are etched metal and are very similar to styles used on the Chesapeake & Ohio.

The "all-rope" style offered by Gold Medal Models differs slightly from the one used by the C&O-the railways standard called for 17 "tales" and the Gold Medal Model has 16 tales.

The other "mesh-and-rope" style is very similar to the Bridge Warning for Bridge No. 2 on the C&O's Buckingham Branch (Drawing No. X-3272). The differences are in the number of tales and the height. The prototype is 7' tall while the model is 6' tall, one foot shy of the C&O version.

Begin construction of the Gold Medal N-scale model by cutting the top of the tell-tales loose from the etching frame with a sharp hobby knife blade, rail nipper, or other sharp tool.

Next, carefully bend the tell-tale back and forth until it breaks free at the bottom. Then cut the stirrups completely off, and glue the top of the tell-tales to the side portion of a T-section piece of Plastruct. This support arm, made from [Plastruct "T," should be cut to a length of 15' for use on one standard and 12' long on the other style.

Next, glue this support arm piece to the pole in the location indicated in C&O Drawing R-579-A (about 3" from the top). While this is drying, begin working on the support "T" bracket.

Bevel the end of one "T" with a small file; carefully bend the plastic to the proper contour with needle-nose pliers. When the piece is curved to a 4' 6" radius, cut the support piece loose from the remainder of the Plastruct piece. Then file the end that was just cut off from the remaining piece of plastic to an angle similar to the other end.

From the tip of the wire, trim 8' of the white covering off the "pole wire" to simulate a smaller pipe. (The prototype used 8", 7", and 6" wrought-iron pipe, but I exercized modelers' licenseand just used two sizes.) Cut the pole to a final length of 35'. Glue the arm and tell-tale assembly to the pole a few inches from the top of the pole. While this is setting up, glue the arched support piece into place.

After all parts are dry, paint them with "Black Bridge Paint."

The poles had 24"-square concrete bases that were curved at the top. Round the edge of the square or round a Plastruct length and cut the piece a scale 7' feet long. Add a small amount of glue to the base of the pole and then slip the "base piece" over the pole to simulate the concrete base. (The base piece needs to be painted in a concrete color.) Finally, it is time to get the drill and "plant" the tell-tale in your layout. &