Don,
I know there haven't been hardly any new constructions of turntables. That's really what spawned the original question. Diesels are indeed able to be used bidirectional (unless dictated against by some rule of the RR they serve, NW comes to mind). This is why most people feel that they are such an anomoly today. But in doing some research I found that a lot of them are still around.
G Paine wrote: pcarrell wrote: The question came up the other day, "How many turntables are really left?" Here's the one in Unity, Me. (It's real small. Right in the center of the pic.)http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=44.61517~-69.324413&style=h&lvl=17 Here's one in Portland, ME.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=43.625483~-70.295194&style=h&lvl=17 The one in Unity, ME is probably used by the Belfast & Moosehead Lake RR. They used to run out of Belfast, but the town took over the land for commercial development. A restoration group has taken over the locos & rolling stock and has been running trains to Burnham Junction this summer. Their site is http://belfastrailroad.com/ The Portland, ME one is actually in South Portland at the Rigby Yard. The roundhouse used to be a lot larger. Another turntable is in Rockland, ME used by the Maine Eastern RR. They have a couple of FP-7s and GP-7s http://www.maineeasternrailroad.com/ The map of this one is at http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=43.625483~-70.295194&style=h&lvl=17 I do not know how pcarrell got his closeups. If you want to see the table, go to the max zoom on Rockland, follow Park St (US Route 1) to the west (left) to the intersection with Broadway (US Route 1A). Look to the west (left) another 1-1/2 blocks and look for the turntable on the south (bottom) side of the road. It's a small turntable with a 4-stall wooden roundhouse. It's really there, we drove by there earlier today so I saw in in 1:1 scale.
pcarrell wrote: The question came up the other day, "How many turntables are really left?" Here's the one in Unity, Me. (It's real small. Right in the center of the pic.)http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=44.61517~-69.324413&style=h&lvl=17 Here's one in Portland, ME.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=43.625483~-70.295194&style=h&lvl=17
The question came up the other day, "How many turntables are really left?"
Here's the one in Unity, Me. (It's real small. Right in the center of the pic.)http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=44.61517~-69.324413&style=h&lvl=17 Here's one in Portland, ME.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=43.625483~-70.295194&style=h&lvl=17
The one in Unity, ME is probably used by the Belfast & Moosehead Lake RR. They used to run out of Belfast, but the town took over the land for commercial development. A restoration group has taken over the locos & rolling stock and has been running trains to Burnham Junction this summer. Their site is http://belfastrailroad.com/
The Portland, ME one is actually in South Portland at the Rigby Yard. The roundhouse used to be a lot larger.
Another turntable is in Rockland, ME used by the Maine Eastern RR. They have a couple of FP-7s and GP-7s http://www.maineeasternrailroad.com/
The map of this one is at
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=43.625483~-70.295194&style=h&lvl=17
I do not know how pcarrell got his closeups. If you want to see the table, go to the max zoom on Rockland, follow Park St (US Route 1) to the west (left) to the intersection with Broadway (US Route 1A). Look to the west (left) another 1-1/2 blocks and look for the turntable on the south (bottom) side of the road. It's a small turntable with a 4-stall wooden roundhouse. It's really there, we drove by there earlier today so I saw in in 1:1 scale.
The B&ML is my favorite RR, so that's one turntable that I knew about when I started looking. It's great that they're back in business though, isn't it.
As to the closeups,.....when you're using that program and you're looking at a heavily populated area of the country, it will sometimes offer you a "birds eye" view over in the area where it says "aerial". That's how I got those shots. When you're looking in a less populated area then that isn't an option and you get what you get, that's it. You did a fine job.
George In Midcoast Maine, 'bout halfway up the Rockland branch
TURNTABLES were built for Steam Engines and most often were the entrance to a Roundhouse to do minor servicing out of the weather.
Diesels, being bi-directional (running forward & backward) only required parallel tracks - whether outdoors, or inside a shop. Diesels didn't require as much road maintenance.
An example might be AT&SF's 16th St. Passenger roundhouse, and Corwith freight yards (having no Roundhouse in the 60's). The 16th St.Roundhouse housed Santa Fe's Passenger diesels in the 40's - two to a stall. Why? - probably because it was already built, and it's trackage was convenient to the Dearborn Passenger station. Similar was L.A. and Union Sation.
I Noticed the picture of Cheyenne's huge turntable now serving only 7 stalls. There was also one in Evanston WY.(ex Big Boys) leased to GATX for tank cars.
In short. Passenger Diesels moved out Passenger steam - and occupied their space. As diesels outnumbered steam, newer larger Diesel fascilities were built, such as Barstow on the Santa Fe. LA's 4th St. Roundhouse now houses Amtrak.
Chama NM still uses an open 'Y' track to turn it's narrow gauge 2-8-2's.
Well it appears that there are still quite a few of these even today. I suspect there were quite a few more that were in use in the last few decades. Guess this dispells the myth that turntables are for steam. Undoubtably they were more plentiful in those days, but that doesn't mean they faded along with the passing of steam. Indeed, they seem to be more then just an anomolly even today.
So what other ones do you all know of?
ezielinski wrote: This topic has been addressed in other forums... http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/912379/ShowPost.aspx and http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/308779/ShowPost.aspx
This topic has been addressed in other forums...
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/912379/ShowPost.aspx
and
http://www.trains.com/trccs/forums/308779/ShowPost.aspx
Oh, I didn't know that. I only read the MRR forums on trains.com. That's good stuff though. Thanks!
Ibflattop wrote: The Turntable thats in Frankfort isnt used anymore. Last thing I heard is that a couple of people are wanting to make a Museum out of the Roundhouse in Frankfort. Kevin
The Turntable thats in Frankfort isnt used anymore. Last thing I heard is that a couple of people are wanting to make a Museum out of the Roundhouse in Frankfort. Kevin
It would take a lot to save the Frankfort roundhouse at this point. The roof on the back (south) side is collapsing, as is the wall on the northwest end. There are many areas of the building that have been open to the weather and the local vandals for too long. And this is only what can be seen from the public streets and alleys, it's a good guess as to what the interior has in store! I wish it would get turned into a museum, there is a lot of railroad history associated with Frankfort, and it would be good for the local businesses. Plus I have never been able to get a chance to go into the roundhouse without risking legal repercussions! Maybe someone will step up and save this while there is still time.
Good Luck, Morpar
I just thought of another one. I saw a brand new one being built at the Railroader's Museum in Altoona, PA. Saw it this summer and I think it is expected to be operational next summer. Sorry, I forget the dimensions, etc.
Tom
Pittsburgh, PA
We have a turntable out at NS east Wayne Yard. Its still used to turn Engines and boxcars. The Turntable thats in Frankfort isnt used anymore. Last thing I heard is that a couple of people are wanting to make a Museum out of the Roundhouse in Frankfort. Kevin
The one in Cheyenne has GOT tto be the UP Steam Shop!!
Frankfort, Indiana still has one in the yards.
http://local.live.com/?v=2&sp=Point.qqd9td7sqpt5_Frankfort%2c%20Indiana%2c%20United%20States___
This table is enclosed with tall chain-link fence and has a large amount of cat-tails growing in the pit. The roundhouse is falling apart, and NS has posted "No Trespassing" signs all over the place. There are no tracks leading to or from the pit. I don't know exactly when the Frankfort table stopped being in use, but I do know it was being used in the late 80's. I heard a rumor last year that someone was trying to buy this turntable and use it as a bridge somewhere, but on Friday when I went past there the fence and the cat-tails were still there!
I just did a little more checking, and the photo from local live is at about 7 years old. I checked some landmarks and figured the timeframe, and that's as close as I can get. You can also go to:
http://www.in.gov/igic/projects/indianamap/index.html
Zoom in on Clinton county, then Frankfort. Follow the main rail lines west out of town. This map photo has been taken between July 2004, and last December, in color, and can be zoomed in much closer. Hope this helps!
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
tcwright973 wrote: Norfolk Southern has a roundhouse an operating turntable in its Conway Yard outside of Pittsburgh. Using Local Live, look up Conway, PA. The yard is between Route 65 and the Ohio River. Tom
Norfolk Southern has a roundhouse an operating turntable in its Conway Yard outside of Pittsburgh. Using Local Live, look up Conway, PA. The yard is between Route 65 and the Ohio River.
Yup, sure enough,....Conway, PA.
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=40.667413~-80.243966&style=h&lvl=18
dehusman wrote:The only shot of a transfer table I could see was the one in the car shop for Amtrak's facility. I could only see one turntable in the Galveston shot (well actually the foundation of one roundhouse, there is no building or tracks there anymore), but if there was another it was for a different railroad. The ATSF, SP and GHH (MP/MKT) all had parallel yards. Dave H.
Here's a little better shot of the other transfer table. http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=qwfj7n83066f&style=o&lvl=2&scene=2651108
As for Galveston, close the small box on the left and you'll see where there used to be turntable tracks in two places in the pic, one in the upper right, and one in the lower left (although that one's tougher to see). It might have been for another road, but two turntables in such close proximity can't be normal (if they were in use at the same time that is).
BRAKIE wrote:If you will look closesly a lot of those roundhouses and turntables doesn't have tracks
Looked to me as if most of them do. Not all, but most.
Maybe my eyes are going.
Dave H. Painted side goes up. My website : wnbranch.com
Mechanical Department "No no that's fine shove that 20 pound set all around the yard... those shoes aren't hell and a half to change..."
The Missabe Road: Safety First
The NS roundhouse at Belevue is being use as MOW building..I can't recall if there is any tracks left in place or not..
The NKP&MR museum has lots to see.Its well worth the trip.I also didn't get to go to the museum this year.
If you will look closesly a lot of those roundhouses and turntables doesn't have tracks
-Dan
Builder of Bowser steam! Railimages Site
I've always been told that turntables were more of a steam thing and that if you run diesels then having one on your layout would not be a "normal" thing but instead, more of a throwback. Well if it's a throwback, then there's a lot of throwing going on! There are still, to this day, LOTS of turntables as I've found out. I've been looking around on windows.local.live and I've found tons of them! And I've barely scratched the surface. Check this out!
With this program it helps to close the white box on the left, and sometimes to click the "birds eye" view. BTW, I'm using this program to find these;http://local.live.com/To post a link, go to the view you want and click on "Share", then click on "Copy To Clipboard". Then you can just paste your link! I couldn't remember if that one was in Seattle or Portland. I found it! It's in Seattle.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=ry7zrh4t1c2g&style=o&lvl=1&scene=3693288And here's the one in Cheyenne, WY.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=41.130103~-104.816679&style=h&lvl=17 Here's the one in Unity, Me. (It's real small. Right in the center of the pic.)http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=44.61517~-69.324413&style=h&lvl=17 Here's one in Portland, ME.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=43.625483~-70.295194&style=h&lvl=17Chicago has at least one!http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=41.838706~-87.765945&style=h&lvl=17&scene=1542635 How about a Transfer Table in Indianapolis? This is in Amtrak's repair facility in Indianapolis, IN. http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=qmkrsq7tt70y&style=o&lvl=1&scene=2552912I guess Galviston, TX. used to have two in the same yard!http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=29.301341~-94.813996&style=h&lvl=17&scene=3395006Here's one right in the heart of New York City!http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=qskdcr8tm0wy&style=o&lvl=1&scene=3097005 Well, this isn't a turntable, but it is cool. It's a rotary car dump at the Indianapolis Power and Light plant. Close the box on the left and then hit the bigger city buildings under "Birds Eye" to get a good look.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=qmtgrc7tkcpy&style=o&lvl=2&scene=2380752 Welcome to Belleview, Ohio!A turntable with roundhouse....http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=41.277438~-82.832839&style=h&lvl=17&scene=2651218And is that a transfer table in the middle?http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=41.291088~-82.797563&style=h&lvl=17&scene=2651108And a wye!http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=41.292901~-82.786458&style=h&lvl=17&scene=2651218This place is the hub for the old Nickle Plate. I can't tell if this is a transfer table or not. It's just south of Cleveland, OH.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=41.338741~-81.516985&style=h&lvl=18&scene=2560792In Buffalo,NY.http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=r4gzbd8dz82m&style=o&lvl=1&scene=238648How about a TT and roundhouse with a good sized yard inside the grounds of US Steel's facility in Gary, IN?http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=41.613733~-87.354878&style=h&lvl=17&scene=2289472
Pasco, WA.
http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=46.227613~-119.081744&style=h&lvl=16
Bunswick, Maryland:http://local.live.com/default.aspx?v=2&cp=39.310315~-77.622544&style=h&lvl=17That's about all I know of right off the top of my head. You can use that program to find more too. So remember, don't let anyone tell you that turntables and modern diesel's don't mix. There's turntables in most major cities, and lots outside of them too!
So now that brings up the next question,......Do you know of any turntables still around? If so, where? Got any pics?