Workin’ on the Railroad – Dutch Door Bridge

Wally Rogers recently completed some important modifications to the Dutch door bridge on our O-scale, 2-rail layout, as seen on 20 July 2024.  This portion of a standard residential interior door serves as a double-deck railroad bridge for us. It was suggested by Wally during the planning and construction of the peninsula which now occupies the middle of the baggage room of our depot. He and Stanley Bye installed this feature in April of 1987.

For the recent upgrade, Wally installed an electrical interlocking so that power to the rails is cut off if the door is left open. This modification was motivated by a train crash during our 2022 open house. A distracted operator (me, Tom) was running a train through this area, but was not aware that the Dutch door bridge had been opened. Tragically, one locomotive crashed to the floor. Wally’s recent work will prevent a recurrence of that unfortunate accident.

While he was at it, Wally installed a better latch, so that the door closes more securely. Some excessive play had developed in the original door latch over the past 37 years, occasionally preventing the rails from aligning perfectly when the door was closed. Wally’s new latch is adjustable, which will make it easier to remove any play which might develop in the next 37 years, or more.