Turntable run around question

[jimk]

Hi everyone,

Are there any prototype examples of using a turntable as a run around, like this:

 

 

Thanks,

Jim 

[tomikawaTT]

At least one - but it was on the far terminal end of a 762mm (2'6") gauge country railway in Japan.  The track plan was much simpler - just a main (platform) track, the runaround track and a single spur on the other side of the platform.  Directly across the turntable from the main was a single stub track with a 'carport' (roof supported on posts, no sides) that housed the road's lone 0-6-0T and later served the four wheel  center cab diesel that replaced it.

I would strongly suggest adding a crossover elsewhere - I'm sure the prototype would have, since using a turntable as a turnout would get old in a hurry.  (The reason my prototype didn't was that the loco had to be turned at the end of its run anyway.  Later it was too poverty-stricken to maintain the track it had, never mind add any.)

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

[IRONROOSTER]

I have seen a picture of this (don't remember where).  It was the end of the line, 2 tracks ran to the turntable and I think there was a spur track as well.  Time period appeared to be in the 1800's. What I don't know (and couldn't tell from the picture) is whether this was permanent or just a temporary end of the line.  

Enjoy

Paul 

[dldance]

the Powell and Mason street cables cars in SF use this arrangement - also because they need to turn the cars at each end.

dd

[markpierce]

At least one - but it was on the far terminal end of a 762mm (2'6") gauge country railway in Japan.  The track plan was much simpler - just a main (platform) track, the runaround track and a single spur on the other side of the platform.  Directly across the turntable from the main was a single stub track with a 'carport' (roof supported on posts, no sides) that housed the road's lone 0-6-0T and later served the four wheel  center cab diesel that replaced it.

I would strongly suggest adding a crossover elsewhere - I'm sure the prototype would have, since using a turntable as a turnout would get old in a hurry.  (The reason my prototype didn't was that the loco had to be turned at the end of its run anyway.  Later it was too poverty-stricken to maintain the track it had, never mind add any.)

Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)

I agree with Chuck.  Further, the several crossings have no apparent reason - a simple relocation of two turnouts would avoid them.  A railroad wouldn't put up with the expense and interference in operations unless there was no better way. 

Every track should have a purpose, at least at the time of construction.  Make sure each track has one before finalizing your plan.

Mark

[jimk]

Thanks for your responses.  I wasn't going to use this track plan-I agree that crossings would only be used where necessary.  I just wanted to know that if it would be beliveable to have a turntable at the end of a run around.  I am modeling in a small area (2x5 in ho) and this would be a good space saver, and more realistic than a sector plate.  Thanks.

Jim 

[marknewton]

It's an arrangement that has been used on a number of branclines in the UK, and also in countries such as France and Germany.

[markpierce]

Thanks for your responses.  I wasn't going to use this track plan-I agree that crossings would only be used where necessary.  I just wanted to know that if it would be beliveable to have a turntable at the end of a run around.  I am modeling in a small area (2x5 in ho) and this would be a good space saver, and more realistic than a sector plate.  Thanks.

Jim 

It wasn't unusual to have two leads to a turntable: one for arrivals, a second for departures.  Such an arrangement created an apparent run-around, but that wasn't the purpose of the two tracks.

Mark

[markpierce]

Thanks for your responses.  I wasn't going to use this track plan-I agree that crossings would only be used where necessary.  I just wanted to know that if it would be beliveable to have a turntable at the end of a run around.  I am modeling in a small area (2x5 in ho) and this would be a good space saver, and more realistic than a sector plate.  Thanks.

Jim 

It wasn't unusual to have two leads to a turntable: one for arrivals, a second for departures.  Such an arrangement created an apparent run-around, but that wasn't the purpose of the two tracks.

Mark

[BR60103]

There was at least one in England where the was a turntable at the station end of the platforms. The platforms had a circular cut out where the turntable rotated and passengers had to walk by it. I think the cutout lasted long after steam engines and the turntable was replaced by plain track.

[wjstix]

In the 19th c. the Milwaukee Road depot in downtown Minneapolis had something like that. The depot was at the end of a long spur line (a couple of miles from the mainline). Trains that headed into the station (usually trains coming from the east) disconnect their engine and run it forward to a small turntable, which both turned the engine and allowed it to run around it's train on one of the vacant tracks to the other end. Eventually I think engines got to be too big, and trains going east or west would use the wye junction with the mainline to set things up so the trains always backed into the depot and then could head out when departing.

[Mark300]

Jim,

I believe the Western Maryland Scenic uses a similar arrangement to turn their engines at the Frostburg end of their operations.

The engine is turned and runs around to the end of the consist were it's connections are made for the return trip back to Cumberland MD.

 

Mark Wallace

Collegeville, PA 

[Mark300]

Jim,

Here's a video.....where the 734 pulls onto the turntable near the end.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d2toFyXrQp8

It's too bad the turntable move is not shown.  However it gives you a good idea.

Mark Wallace

Collegeville, PA 

[cnwfan51]

    Hello Just saw this post and and I have to say that I recently saw a program on various trourist  railroads across the country on Nebraska Public T.V. and there is a line back East that does use thier turntable as part of their move to run around the train at the end of the line  so like almost everything else in this hobby If you hane thought about it its been done somewhere else  But I do like the track plan I saw   kepp up the imgaiation   Larry

[Autobus Prime]

  like almost everything else in this hobby, if you have thought about it, it's been done somewhere else

cf:

I think my favorite example of this was when the Waynesburg & Washington extended their main line....through the back wall of the enginehouse.  Try doing that on a model RR and see how people react. :)  Railroads do weird things.

(I found this tidbit in a book on the W&W I read some time ago...THREE FEET ON THE PANHANDLE? Maybe it wasn't that one.)

(I may even be wrong in thinking it was the W&W...but I'm sure about the enginehouse.)

[R. T. POTEET]

Hi everyone,

Are there any prototype examples of using a turntable as a run around, like this:

Thanks,

Jim 

I find this trackwork outline just a little convoluted but lets see if I understand just what you are asking:

You appear to be asking if it was prototypical practice to run a locomotive onto a turntable, turn it, then deposit it onto a different track where it could run-around and recouple to the opposite end of a train, most typically a passenger train.

I have sure seen a lot of published layout diagrams with just this design feature and some of these were on layouts of prominent model railroaders. I thought that this was rather common practice at terminals on branch lines in the steam era.

[markpierce]

The track arrangement isn't rare on layouts because it is space-saving.  Prototypically, almost all turntables with multiple leads were to allow greater access to the turntable, not to run around trains.  It was not a common practice at branch line terminals.  The usual practice was to have a spur track lead to the turntable.

Mark

[markpierce]

I forgot to mention that, in recent years, I've been looking more at what prototype railroads did rather other modelers for inspiration.

Mark