Turntable Question

[HAZMAT9]

I've found a street running track plan to add to my Granite Gorge and Northern RR in terms of adding an extra 3' by 7' to the layout, as well as an extra wide radius mainline for a passenger line. Need a little input on turntables in order to turnaround passenger cars since I don't have room in the yard for a runaround. I guess I need an HO scale turntable....since I'm using Atlas Code 83, what about an Atlas turntable...are they big enough for passenger cars? Any input would be appreciated. Thanks, Steve

[Anonymous]

While a number of passenger cars would have to be turned (e.g. end of train cars like lounges that were designed to always be at the rear) I don't think that any prototype regularly turned passenger cars one at a time on a turntable. They most often used a "balloon track" - a big loop (which you don't have room for).

Instead of turntable, which would be a real exercise in patience, maybe you should try a "cassette". It's a shelf or module of sorts that you can drive the train onto, then lift away from the layout, turn around, and run the train back on to the layout in the right direction. They have often been part of British staging solutions - you might want to try a search in the Index of Magazines to find more info.

Hope that helps.

Andrew

[fwright]

Steve

The Atlas turntable is 9in diameter which is about 66 scale feet. Passenger cars of the 20th century, heavyweight or streamlined, were typically around 80ft long (11.5 in HO). However, many model manufacturers in HO and O offered shortened models that scaled to around 60-70ft long to use the small radius curves of sectional track. These models are often called "shortys", and would likely be a tight fit on the Atlas turntable, depending on actual length. The full scale models will not fit unless they are models of 50ft passenger cars from the 19th century.

My personal opinion is the Atlas turntable was designed (in the 1950s) to work with rolling stock that go around their 15 and 18 in radius curves.

You will probably not want to live with the limitation. Bowser, Walters, and Fleischman (and there are others I don't know of) all have made or are making larger turntables. Other MRs have made their own larger turntables using the Atlas turntable as a base.

Turntables, like min radius of curves, involve space vs desired rolling stock issues. Larger turntables take up considerably more space, so you don't want to go bigger than you need. But what is the biggest locomotive and/or car you will ever run?

I hope this info helps in making your decision.

yours in training
Fred Wright

[markpierce]

Have you considered installing a wye instead of a turntable? With a wye you could turn several cars and perhaps a short train at a time.

[HAZMAT9]

I did think that the Atlas turntable was a bit too small. Yeah the lounge cars are the main issue as well as the pullers which the turntable can deal with. I may try Andrew's idea and will research that option. In any event, I guess I can squeeze in a runaround loop but it will have to be tight and will take away from the city scene a bit....whatever will work I can compensate for. Steve

[ereimer]

this is an article on how to make an atlas turntable look more realistic . there's nothing to stop you from also making it longer

http://www.2guyzandsumtrains.com/Content/pa=showpage/pid=11.html

[selector]

It is interesting that so many of us turn to TTs as a solution to boredom, or tight fits, and both are associated, one might say, with poor planning. I won't discuss that because I made several errors, myself, but I wanted to say that for all their necessity and general popularity, they only come two ways...small and crappy, or bigger and veeeeerrrryyy expensive if you want one that is both reliable and easy to use. Unfortunately, we have heard from those who chose the indexed models that they are not all they're cracked up to be.

I have the Walther's 90'er and MADE it work. What a hassle!!

[HAZMAT9]

I probably wouldn't have this problem if I didn't add to the layout, a foot here a foot there. I've decided to squeeze in a wye since I've seen many street running pics that illustrate quite a few tracks on the street. I was originally worried that many tracks on the streets wouldn't look good, though I keep forgetting that rails are flush w/ the road.

[wjstix]

A couple of things to keep in mind...

The length of the car has nothing to do with it - it's the wheelbase you have to go by...although yes, I do think an 80' cars wheelbase might be too long, but you might be able to fit a 70'-72' passenger car (like an Athearn coach). Best way to test would be to get a 9" straight of sectional track and see what fits!!

Many real passenger cars were less than 80' long. Baggage cars and RPO's were often 60'-70' long, many combines and coaches were around 70'-72' long. Walthers / Rivarossi's 60' RPO, Baggage, Utility Coach, and Utility Combine are all fullsize models of real 60' long cars !! The CB&Q even had some 40' heavyweight cars for branchline use.

[Anonymous]

By laying a longer section of track over the exixting piece and cutting the gearbox cover back to clear the new track you should be able to use the Atlas TT. If you use the hand crank and move it to the bottom you should be able to turn a 90' car.