As part of the landscape for this layout, I needed a road to cross the railway by means of a bridge. Peco, in their - 009/H0e Setrack Planbook show the Wills SS28 Occupation Bridge (Single Track) and Stone Abutments as being suitable. Looking at the character of the bridge it seemed ideal for what I was after for a narrow gauge railway. Having ordered one, it was upon opening the kit and studying the parts that I found that the abutment walls were not high enough to allow a steam 009 gauge type loco under it without a major incident! I guess if you were using very small industrial diesel locos with limited height then it might work. However there are solutions! Liking the bridge structure itself I had some SSMP227 Wills English Bond Brick sheet in stock so measurements were taken, head scratching undertaken, internet searching carried out and after a bit I ended up making these abutments which are 5cm tall which in old measurements is just a tad over 2 inches!
People either seem to love or hate the Wills sheets. They are thick, can be difficult to cut and need mitered joints on the corners if you want a continuity in the bricks and bond. I have got used to them although I have at times cursed them but as you will note from the photo I still end up with filler on the joints. The coping stones on top of the brickwork are just balsa wood which was cut to size.
Once happy with things the bridge components were treated to a coat of Halfords grey primer in a rattle can which handily was nearby.
Then it was time for some colouring - literally! As described in my post on the construction of the Dapol Windmill kit the brick work was rubbed over with a selection of brown, orange and red coloured pencils randomly. Because the mortar lines of the bricks are recessed in the model, the pencils just colour the bricks leaving a great finish.
