Rountables

[Anonymous]

Are they still used today or are they a thing of the past mainly for turning steam, not so much for Diesel?

[Anonymous]

There are still some in use, but not on class 1 or 2 roads. Most modern locos are just too heavy (150-200 tons) for them. The tourist roads have a couple in use, mostly for show. Several roads used them well into their dieselization periods and I've heard some where still in use in the 70's but ya know how the rumor mill is.

[Anonymous]

Norfolk Southern has one in Ft. Wayne, Roanoke, and Altoona, GTW in Flat Rock to name a few a lot of older terminals have one and just the turntable remains as the need for a roundhouse is gone. Railroads still need to turn power so it is easier for yard crews to see the engineer and if all the power is facing the wrong way. Wyes are in use to and you can take more engines at one time to wye then on a turntable. Even on NS long hood forward on through freights is uncommon. Done it and don't like it.

[BR60103]

CNR used its Toronto steam roundhouse, with the turntable, well into the diesel era, only abandoning it when they sold the land for a sports stadium. (was that the 80s?) The roundhouse also hosted diesels for VIA and Amtrak. I remember seeing an Amtrak diesel half into the pit one morning. There was also a reverse loop that ran around the roundhouse and the passenger yard; they turned entire passenger trains on that.
--David
--David

[Anonymous]

There's a number of reasons why turntables are hardly ever found in service, but I can't agree with you on the weight issue.Turntables in use in the latter days of steam, routinely handled 4-6-4 and 4-8-4 locomotives of 300-400 tons. Roads having the big articulateds, right across N. America, had TT's swinging 480-540 ton engines.
I believe it's a combination of service cost to maintain turntables, combined with the practise of MU'ing units, so that there's always a cab facing either direction...no need to turn in most cases.
regards / Mike

[dknelson]

Last time I checked the BNSF had a turntable at Eola yard in Illinois. I don't think they have a "wye" there
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

csx still has one at willard yard but i dont know if they still use it, they can handle the tonage but there is very little use for one most terminals have at least one "Y" and thats alot cheaper than a table:)