Trestle Tables, Bridges & Rollercoasters

A trestle, or tressle, is a firm frame which is used to support some sort of structure. It is usually used in reference to bridges which are formed of many short-spanned frames. Timber and iron trestles were very popular in the nineteenth century. Today steel, timber and concrete trestles are still used to bridge deep valleys. This article looks at some of the different ways that trestle has been used on railways, bridges, rollercoasters and furniture.

In the nineteenth and twentieth centuries timber trestles were thought of as temporary solutions, which would be replaced by more permanent works. Once the railway or bridge was operational the trestles could be filled in to offer more permanence. Thanks to the invention of the earthmover, it is easier than ever to fill these gaps. Nevertheless, timber trestles can still be seen used for many bridges where earth fill would obstruct water flow.

In the United Kingdom timber trestles were mainly used to help railway tracks cross deep valleys in Cornwall. They have since been replaced with masonry viaducts, meaning very few timber trestles have survived. There is still some trestle which can still be seen on the railway lines in Wales.

Many wooden rollercoasters are built using trestle bridge-style constructions, because it makes it so easy to take the roller coaster high into the air. The weight is distributed through the large trestle structure, offering a high degree of resilience against the stresses and strains provided by such a ride. Trestle rollercoasters are limited, in that they don’t support loops, but continue to be used in many parts of the world.

Trestle tables are items of furniture, using trestle construction to hold the table surface along with two centralised legs. They are among the earliest form of tables, and were popularly constructed from stone and marble in ancient Rome. It wasn’t until the 16^th century that basic trestle tables were superseded by strong frame-based tables.

Because of the ease of assembling trestle tables, they have become popular special occasion tables, and are ideal for use as a dining table since they offer a greater amount of leg room to diners. They are still a popular choice for dining tables for this reason, and are considered more attractive by some. They are also popularly used as school furniture, typically in the school canteen.

They’ve been used on railway tracks, bridges, rollercoasters and dining furniture. Trestle frames are strong structures which spread loads, and are relied upon for a variety of purposes.