How to Make Your Own Train Trestle

Determine the Size and Layout

• 1

  Consider the model size of your trains when determining how large to make a trestle. An over-sized trestle will make the train seem smaller than it is, while an undersized trestle will make it seem larger. If you know the scale of your model train, use it to determine the size of your trestle pieces. A full-size trestle is generally made up of 12 foot square timbers.

• 2

  Measure the length of the span of the bridge and the height that it will need to be. Use the length of the span to determine how many bents you will need.

• 3

  Consider how you want to support the track of your model train. A bent will not support the track by itself, so you will need to mount the track on a roadbed or install small pieces of wood across the tops of the bents to support the track.

Build the Bents

• 4

  Rip pieces of lumber into square pieces the size you need for your trestles on a table saw or lumber mill.

• 5

  Cut a cap piece for one trestle with a circular or miter saw. To figure the length, use the scale size of your model. A real trestle cap is about 14 feet long.

• 6

  Cut the two center leg pieces for one bent. These pieces will be completely horizontal, so their length will be the height of your trestle bridge minus a thickness for the cap and bottom sill.

• 7

  Determine the angle of your outside leg pieces. The cap should stick out longer than the outside edge of the legs by the thickness of one post on each side. Cut pieces of wood longer than your center pieces and place them by the cap to find an appropriate angle. Cut the ends of these leg pieces to this angle.

• 8

  Cut a bottom sill piece that is one post thickness wider than the outer legs on either side. Cut a center sill that is also one post thickness wider than the outer legs on each side. This sill will be placed about the middle of the height of your bent.

• 9

  Cut cross pieces that go from the cap to the center sill and from the center sill to the bottom sill. You will need two cross pieces at the top and two cross pieces at the bottom for each bent.

• 10

  Lay the pieces together to make sure that they look the way you want them to. Then cut enough pieces to make the rest of your bents.

• 11

  Assemble your bents using brads or finish nails and a brad nailer. Make sure that the brads or nails are not so long that they will stick out of your bents. When you add the cross pieces, cross one from right to left on both the top and bottom of the bent on one side and then cross one from left to right on top and bottom of the other side.

• 12

  Place your bents in their locations on your layout and attach them to the roadbed or pieces of lumber that will support your track. Attach the track to the trestle bridge.