Trains.com

Double Turntable

16125 views
17 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    April 2017
  • 5 posts
Posted by greager on Monday, April 10, 2017 11:16 AM

This is my first attempt to pst links and pictures...hope it works...

I have found some references to double tracks on turntables.  Here is a link to one...it's on page 338 and talking about cable cars but I have found others now concerning railroads.

 

https://play.google.com/books/reader?id=KtBBAQAAIAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&hl=en_US&pg=GBS.PP1

 

Here is a photo from Jasper taken in 1937 of the railroad.

Jasper 1937

Although the turntable is no longer there, near the center of the picture appears to be a round depression with 2 tracks now running through it.  I believe there is a 3rd track just above that curves around the depression.

 

 

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
  • 4,422 posts
Posted by DSchmitt on Monday, April 10, 2017 3:02 AM

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
  • 4,422 posts
Posted by DSchmitt on Sunday, April 9, 2017 10:38 PM

More pictures at Altona

http://115518.homepagemodules.de/t937f87-Wo-es-gerade-so-schoen-warm-ist-1.html

I have found a similar set up at Bw Köln Betriebsbahnhof (Cologne)  There is plan in this discussion.  I think plan is Cologne.  It is different from plan already posted.  Scroll down.  Site is in German.

 http://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?17,6682817,page=all

Photos of Cologne from link on above site

 http://www.drehscheibe-online.de/foren/read.php?17,4573604,4573604,sv=2

 

 An N scale model

http://www.tee-verein.de/bilderdesmonats/monat_november_2006.html

Z Scale  Scroll down

http://www.forum.hunsrueckquerbahn.de/viewtopic.php?t=39040

 

Color picture of Altona

http://img-fotki.yandex.ru/get/4133/123177916.1b6/0_c89e3_a3f7e1e_XXL.jpg

 

 

 

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

  • Member since
    September 2011
  • 6,449 posts
Posted by MidlandMike on Sunday, April 9, 2017 9:35 PM

Miningman

 

 

It was explained in another thread that the the 2 turntable footprints were originally separate, but later overlapped when the TTs needed to be enlarged.

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Sunday, April 9, 2017 9:24 AM

Miningman

Can you imagine even attempting to model that plan view of the trackage in Altona? You would somewhat simultaneously go broke and nuts somewhere along the line. The wiring itself would be a nightmare. 

That double overlapping turntable looks like an accident waiting to happen. Altona or Altoona -which was more complex?

 

You know, as brilliant as they can be the Germans do have a bad habit of over-engineering things from time to time.   That Altona complex is a pretty good example of the same.

I'm also reminded of the Mauser 1896 "Broomhandle" pistol, the Luger pistol, the Panther and Tiger tanks, although when the Germans get it right they really get it right, like the 1898 Mauser rifle.  Absolutely brilliant, and still in production today in various forms.

Then again, trying to be fair, Altona is a district of Hamburg, and maybe they were trying to pack the maximum amount of railyard/engine facility into the minimum amount of space?

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • 5 posts
Posted by greager on Sunday, April 9, 2017 7:34 AM

Thanks!  The turntable I'm researching was in Jasper, In.....northern end of the Rockport line.  This line was built by Cincinnati,  Rockport and Southwestern.  George R Eager was the vice president of this railroad.  One of the original locomotives on this line was named G. R. Eager.  It was rebuilt and renamed to "Jasper"  in June of 1879.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • 5 posts
Posted by greager on Sunday, April 9, 2017 7:11 AM

Great info! I assume this was 2 sets of tracks, side by side, on one turntable.  Any idea why this was done?  

  • Member since
    November 2005
  • 4,190 posts
Posted by wanswheel on Saturday, April 8, 2017 11:15 PM
  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 25,292 posts
Posted by BaltACD on Saturday, April 8, 2017 7:55 PM

Firelock76
The Jersey Central had two turntables at their Communipaw engine terminal, however not overlapping, they were side-by-side.

You know, if the Germans had managed to squeeze a third overlapping turntable into that Altona roundhouse complex they'd have had the old Ballentine Beer logo!

Put in a 3rd & 4th interlocking turntables and you would have the Audi logo, throw in a 5th and you would have the Olympics

Never too old to have a happy childhood!

              

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Saturday, April 8, 2017 7:43 PM

Well yes I realize that...I'm an N Scale guy from way back...it's not the area thats troubling...that comes later! It's the 384,823 switches and a zillion miles of wiring let alone the ability to understand what you did and how to wire it. Without conflict. Of course you would also have to kitbash that nutty turntable(s). 

Z Scale?...you ever seen the price of those switches, locomotives and rolling stock...think Bill Gates or Warren Buffet are the only guys that could afford this In Z scale. 

  • Member since
    September 2010
  • From: Parma Heights Ohio
  • 3,442 posts
Posted by Penny Trains on Saturday, April 8, 2017 7:20 PM

You might be able to do it in a basement if you used Z scale.  O gauge would need large warehouse. Tongue Tied

Trains, trains, wonderful trains.  The more you get, the more you toot!  Big Smile

  • Member since
    September 2013
  • 6,199 posts
Posted by Miningman on Saturday, April 8, 2017 10:59 AM

Can you imagine even attempting to model that plan view of the trackage in Altona? You would somewhat simultaneously go broke and nuts somewhere along the line. The wiring itself would be a nightmare. 

That double overlapping turntable looks like an accident waiting to happen. Altona or Altoona -which was more complex?

  • Member since
    August 2010
  • From: Henrico, VA
  • 8,955 posts
Posted by Firelock76 on Saturday, April 8, 2017 9:25 AM

The Jersey Central had two turntables at their Communipaw engine terminal, however not overlapping, they were side-by-side.

You know, if the Germans had managed to squeeze a third overlapping turntable into that Altona roundhouse complex they'd have had the old Ballentine Beer logo!

  • Member since
    May 2012
  • 5,017 posts
Posted by rcdrye on Saturday, April 8, 2017 7:11 AM

New York Central had a double roundhouse at Selkirk NY, 32 and 30 stalls.

San Francisco's Market Street Railway had a two track powered turntable for its cable cars at the Ferry Building before the 1906 quake.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • 5 posts
Posted by greager on Saturday, April 8, 2017 6:14 AM

Thanks for the info!

However, this turntable was installed in 1882 replacing the one installed in 1879 (which apparently had to be turned using a second locomotive.

It was at the end of a short line RR in Jasper Indiana.  The newspaper article also states "the sills are oak, 16 by 22 inches square and fifty feet long".

I'm sure this was not two turntables side by side.  It was by an engine house.  

The locomotives on this line at the time were 4-4-0 mainly and there was one heavier freight engine but I don't know what it was yet.

  • Member since
    September 2003
  • From: California - moved to North Carolina 2018
  • 4,422 posts
Posted by DSchmitt on Saturday, April 8, 2017 4:51 AM

I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.

I don't have a leg to stand on.

  • Member since
    April 2015
  • 469 posts
Posted by Enzoamps on Saturday, April 8, 2017 4:04 AM

I don't know this instance, but my first impression was of two turntables side by side.

  • Member since
    April 2017
  • 5 posts
Double Turntable
Posted by greager on Friday, April 7, 2017 12:56 PM

I am researching the Louisville, Evansville and St Louis Railroad.  I found an article in an old newspaper where a double turntable was installed.  What is a double turntable?   The article also says "and now they don't  have to hitch a locomotive on to turn another one".  How was this done?

 

SUBSCRIBER & MEMBER LOGIN

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

FREE NEWSLETTER SIGNUP

Get the Classic Trains twice-monthly newsletter