"Sector Plate/Turntable Switch" ?? Does what?

[hoofe116]

Gurus of G gau-scale:

While having about four hours of nothing to do last night between 0000 Dark and 0400 Really Dark (couldn't sleep) I was paging thru the Feb 07 issue of GR. On page 12 in the Notes & News, they describe--in a masterpiece of circularity--a 'turntable switch' made by Lokfuhrer-Lukas of Germany as '... what we would call a sector plate'.

Well, that sure explained a lot. It looks like a short turntable that serves the function of a Wye turnout. It's short, had a little 0-4-0 (?--small picture) on it. A pit with a track leading in, and possibly 3 tracks leading out. Only one is shown but the pit is pie-shaped.

Sooo ... what were these used for--wait, given the levity floating around, lemme rephrase that: where were these found & used and why, when a 3-legged Wye would do the same job? Are they seen much in the G world? Perhaps they function where the distance to whatever the 'outlet' track(s) went to was too short to accomodate even a tight radius? Like perhaps a short-radius engine shed? Were these used in America? I know lateral 'transfer tables' were used but not when, other than in the steam era back East. Perhaps even the diesel era as well, don't see why not.

Because of my tight space, I could think they might come in handy if they existed pre-1900. I also seem to remember a picture of a vast industrial site where a turntable actually served to route freight between buildings of a big factory complex. Looked odd, what with tracks radiating out 360 deg.

As regards to the jokes re Lucas electrics: A very long time ago, in the mid-60s, I passed on a rather cherry Norton. It is one of the minor regrets of my life. It would've cost me $1500, which I had, being single, but I thought it was too steep. Wish I've known then how fast money goes and how long memories stay. Of course I don't remember if the ignition, etc was Lucas, but it seems like it was.

Les--Up to his ankles in mud along the MO.

[Capt Bob Johnson]

I can't wait to hear what TJ says about this one!

[hoofe116]

I can't wait to hear what TJ says about this one!

How so, Cap?

 

[udo]

A sector plate does not function as a three point wye. The locomotive is not turned. It functions as a blind end of a passing siding, Used in a tight space since it eliminates the lead. More common on lines with tank locomotives.
More common in Europe. I don't know of a USA example. I'm building one into my European layout.

[vsmith]

Carls website does the best job of explaining what the two are.

http://www.carendt.com/

http://www.carendt.com/microplans/index.html

look in "shelf switchers" under "sector plate" and "turntable"

[hoofe116]

Udo:

Thanks for the reply. Are you in Europe, or here in the States modeling European trains?

Vic put me onto a website that was a great eye-opener in the use of sector plates. Apparently they're a modeler's solution rather than a prototype of anything. Nevertheless, I'm going to make use of them.

I am modeling--attempting to, I've been diverted by house repairs--the period between 1840 and 1900, with emphasis on the earlier period. I will use 'strap-iron' & wood track.

Les W. in the SW corner of the confluence of the Missouri & Mississippi.

[J Silverman]

If you saw that article in GR about three years ago on 1-by-1 foot model railways, they used a sector plate quite effectively there.

[udo]

Les, the german word is segmentdrehschibe which translates as sector turntable. Just part of 360 degree turntable. They are real prototype, but they also work well in the small space of a model railway. My early stage layout is in the USA.

http://www.lokschmiede-neuhof.de/index.html

http://www.modellbauhenke.de/html/zubehoer_d.php?product=dreh

This is a model thru segment, pivots in the middle.

http://www.modellbahn-spurn.de/die_segmentdrehscheibe.htm

Part way down this pdf is a prototype photo.

http://www.spurnull.de/pdf/20060701.pdf

[hoofe116]

If you saw that article in GR about three years ago on 1-by-1 foot model railways, they used a sector plate quite effectively there.

No, I saw it at the website Vic listed. Sometimes I wonder if there's a model train site on the web that gentleman doesn't know about?

Les

[hoofe116]

Udo:

Okay, thanks for clarifying the fact that the sector plates are prototypical. I got the impression they were not from the context of the articles and pictures--all seemed to be hidden in a building or 'off scene' someplace. Building one that's visible would be fun, I think. I have every intention of building a turntable or two, prob'ly a gallows-type and a powered one.

I intend to hand-build as much as I can, probably even unto powered trucks, eventually. Cabbage put me onto a place in England that sells lots of stuff like gears, motors and whatnot that I can't seem to locate a local source for.

I have no RR in being at the moment. I got pretty sick last summer, and have had my hands full reworking my house because my wife's art business is expanding. When I do build, it'll have to be inside, regrettably. Heh, how does 'indoor-garden-railroad' translate into German?

Les