How do turntables / transfer tables work?

[Anonymous]

Just curious. Excuse my ignorance, but I've never installed a turntable or a transfer table, so I'm not familiar with how they operate. Since the track obviously separates at some point when the thing is turning, how does the connection stay there? Same thing with those Walthers bridges that retract up and down (and the one the that swings sideways). How is it that the circuit is not broken?

Thanks. [:D]

[Anonymous]

Turntables, transfer tables, and other movable track devices are not connected physically to any fixed track. The track on these devices is electrically connected with their own wires to the track bus wiring. The motors (if they are motorized) used to move these devices have their own circuit -- they do not run off of track power.

Dale B.

[dehusman]

On a transfer table the table gets its power much the same way a locomotive gets power. It rolls on metal wheels on metal rails and picks up electricity throuth them.

On a turntable it is common to have wiper contacts on the central pivot or the rail ring in the pit is split in half and the support wheels(or a wiper) on one end of the turntable is connected to one rail and the other end is connected to the other rail on the turn table.

Dave H.

[Anonymous]

The Peco turntable uses a couple of pieces of shaped brass strip fitted into the turntable pit, and a couple of sprung brass plungers on the underside of the moving part (which I think is called the bridge, but I may be wrong!). These parts are invisible when the table is installed as they are sited aroung the pivot and therefore hidden from view.