Turntables, are they..

[jacon12]

worth the time and expense to have them on a layout? I think I have the space for one but to use ALL my locos on it, it would have to be a 130 footer... (a 2-6-6-4 Class A NW). The ones that size can get pretty expensive and I've heard they can be the devil to install correctly.
So, what's your opinion on the turntable subject?
Jarrell

[earthqu8kes]

after the 2-6-6-4 wut is the longest loco you have. i wuld sacrifice using the 2-6-6-4 on the turn table and svae money.

[tomikawaTT]

Turntables can be scratchbuilt - takes time, but reduces the cash outlay (and can result in a much more satisfactory result if you're modeling a specific prototype.)

OR - you can avoid turntables if:

1. There is a wye available with a wide enough radius and a long enough tail track to turn your Class A.

2. There is a reverse loop (balloon track) ditto - which might be off-scene. [Road loco cuts off, runs (possibly in reverse) to the engine terminal half a mile down the road, returns facing the opposite way ready to take another manifest or cover for a J on a passenger run. (Yes, the N&W sometimes ran the A on passenger trains.)]

3. The A is motive power for run-through freights that don't turn locally.

Turntable pro - nothing says 'Steam Railroad' like a turntable and associated service facilities.

Turntable con - nothing else on the railroad requires as much precision construction, demands as much attention to maintenance detail and has as much potential for trouble as a turntable. More than one locomotive, model and prototype, has wound up nose down in the pit when it tried to roll onto a turntable bridge that wasn't there.

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by tomikawaTT

Turntables can be scratchbuilt - takes time, but reduces the cash outlay (and can result in a much more satisfactory result if you're modeling a specific prototype.)

OR - you can avoid turntables if:

1. There is a wye available with a wide enough radius and a long enough tail track to turn your Class A.

2. There is a reverse loop (balloon track) ditto - which might be off-scene. [Road loco cuts off, runs (possibly in reverse) to the engine terminal half a mile down the road, returns facing the opposite way ready to take another manifest or cover for a J on a passenger run. (Yes, the N&W sometimes ran the A on passenger trains.)]

3. The A is motive power for run-through freights that don't turn locally.

Turntable pro - nothing says 'Steam Railroad' like a turntable and associated service facilities.

Turntable con - nothing else on the railroad requires as much precision construction, demands as much attention to maintenance detail and has as much potential for trouble as a turntable. More than one locomotive, model and prototype, has wound up nose down in the pit when it tried to roll onto a turntable bridge that wasn't there.

Yes, #3 is correct. I've planned for it to be a through freight.
And that last paragraph you wrote.... that's what I was afraid of. Thanks for the input, I appreciate it.
Jarrell

[Anonymous]

If you want to save a bit of Ca***ry this

http://cgi.ebay.com/N-gauge-Train-Round-House-and-Turntable_W0QQitemZ6038532611QQcategoryZ19127QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jeorge

If you want to save a bit of Ca***ry this

http://cgi.ebay.com/N-gauge-Train-Round-House-and-Turntable_W0QQitemZ6038532611QQcategoryZ19127QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Looks like a good deal and thanks for the link. I guess I should have stated that I'm HO scale... :) I have thought about having a 3 stall engine house without a turntable though.
Jarrell

[jecorbett]

I think the main question is are you modeling an area where a turntable would likely be such as a division point yard. If so, you almost certainly would have one in the steam era. If you are modeling an area where few if any locos would be turned, it is not necessary. But if you do need to turn locos, you need either a TT, a wye, or a loop and all are space hogs. As pointed out, a loop or one leg of a wye could be a hidden track and not eat up a lot of your visibile space.

I have already installed Walther's 130' TT on my layout. It is pricey but I am very happy with it. I also have a the old 90' TT which will be installed at the end of a yet to be built branchline. The branchline engines will have to be turned at the junction to the mainline. I didn't have room for a TT there but just beyond the junction, the mainline disappears into a tunned which is the entrance to a loop staging yard. Theortetically, the mainline forks on the other side of the tunnel and there is a wye junction there. My branchline engines will travel through the tunnel to turn around on the wye which is actually a hidden loop and they will return to the modeled junction pointed in the right direction to travel back up the branchline.

[Anonymous]

you could always build your own
http://cgi.ebay.com/H-D-Scale-Models-Modern-Turntable-No-30-HO-up-to-125_W0QQitemZ6038377428QQcategoryZ117370QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or try something like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/HO-TRAIN-TURNTABLE-ENGINE-HOUSE-LIMA-MODEL-POWER_W0QQitemZ6037872134QQcategoryZ11646QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or is this more what your looking for

http://cgi.ebay.com/MARKLIN-410-NG-TURNTABLE-NEVER-USED-TURN-TABLE_W0QQitemZ6037675189QQcategoryZ1557QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Im just thinking of what you could get for the least amount of Cash....

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jecorbett

I think the main question is are you modeling an area where a turntable would likely be such as a division point yard. If so, you almost certainly would have one in the steam era. If you are modeling an area where few if any locos would be turned, it is not necessary. But if you do need to turn locos, you need either a TT, a wye, or a loop and all are space hogs. As pointed out, a loop or one leg of a wye could be a hidden track and not eat up a lot of your visibile space.

I have already installed Walther's 130' TT on my layout. It is pricey but I am very happy with it. I also have a the old 90' TT which will be installed at the end of a yet to be built branchline. The branchline engines will have to be turned at the junction to the mainline. I didn't have room for a TT there but just beyond the junction, the mainline disappears into a tunned which is the entrance to a loop staging yard. Theortetically, the mainline forks on the other side of the tunnel and there is a wye junction there. My branchline engines will travel through the tunnel to turn around on the wye which is actually a hidden loop and they will return to the modeled junction pointed in the right direction to travel back up the branchline.

thanks for the input. It gives me more to think about and that's the name of the game!
Jarrell

[jacon12]

QUOTE: Originally posted by Jeorge

you could always build your own
http://cgi.ebay.com/H-D-Scale-Models-Modern-Turntable-No-30-HO-up-to-125_W0QQitemZ6038377428QQcategoryZ117370QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or try something like this?
http://cgi.ebay.com/HO-TRAIN-TURNTABLE-ENGINE-HOUSE-LIMA-MODEL-POWER_W0QQitemZ6037872134QQcategoryZ11646QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

or is this more what your looking for

http://cgi.ebay.com/MARKLIN-410-NG-TURNTABLE-NEVER-USED-TURN-TABLE_W0QQitemZ6037675189QQcategoryZ1557QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Im just thinking of what you could get for the least amount of Cash....

Thanks for the links Jeorge. I'm not sure at this point what to do. It would be nice to be able to turn engines via a TT but I've heard so many stories about how hard they are to get to operate right I'm just a little bit leery of tackling one.
Probably in the end, I'll try it.. :)
Jarrel

[reklein]

The comment about Misalignment,brought a little smile to my face when it reminded me of a mishap at a club I once belonged to.We had the TT out for maintenance,and I mean the whole unit was out,there was a hole in the table. A couple guys were fooling around with a deisel on the TT lead,and they ran the engine into the hole. Luckily it was a cheapy and the laugh was worth thetrouble.
I like the Diamond Scale setup, takes some fooling around but makes a really good working unit once setup.
I installed an optical detector unit for a freind,and it was realy hard to setup and once working you could only go the same way round each time. It would lose its setting due to backlash which we could not work out of the system. Dispite new center bearings and all.

[wjstix]

Keep in mind you could always build an "armstrong" turntable...on the prototype, some turntables weren't powered by electricty or steam, but by manpower. In other words, you could probably scratchbuild or kitbash a goodsized manual turntable for a very modest outlay of money. Then you could use a crank mechanism or the "big five" method to turn it rather than worrying about motors and gearing etc...

[aggiewonder]

according to my three year old son, my railroad HAS to have one...and a roundhouse...i guess i'll just HAVE to break down and plan to put them in...

[selector]

Jarrell, they add a great deal of pleasure to operating your roster of locos. You bridge and stall the ones that need "service', and turn them off (our friendly double-tap on F9 for QSI). That leaves you whatever is still in service to run your road, and they are wherver you send them. It adds variety, and a prototypical way to keep your rails uncluttered.

My advice? Pay for the indexed pre-builts and be done with it. Paint it up nice and weather it, and it will be a showpiece.

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by selector

Jarrell, they add a great deal of pleasure to operating your roster of locos. You bridge and stall the ones that need "service', and turn them off (our friendly double-tap on F9 for QSI). That leaves you whatever is still in service to run your road, and they are wherver you send them. It adds variety, and a prototypical way to keep your rails uncluttered.

My advice? Pay for the indexed pre-builts and be done with it. Paint it up nice and weather it, and it will be a showpiece.

I second the motion. It's one area where I find that paying for one that's totally ready to go is worth it.

[jacon12]

Ok, you guys got me. I'm gonna try and install one. Boy this is gonna be something. Hey Aggie, they're only young once so .......
reklein, I'll bet I run one in the hole at least once a week. Probably was a little embarrasing though.. :)
Selector, I think I'll go for the manual type. Heck all the turnouts are manual so what the heck! Indexed prebuilts? I know prebuilt but I'm gonna have to research indexed vs. undexed.
Thanks guys

Jarrell

[jecorbett]

My Walther's 130' is indexed but I haven't been using that feature. Everytime I lift the bridge to clean the gears or other maintentance, it loses its place and I have to program all over again. Even without the indexing, I love turning engines on it. It is really impressive to see a big steamer turning slowly on the TT. It really gives me the feeling that I am operating a late transition period railroad.

[ereimer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jacon12
I'm gonna have to research indexed vs. undexed.
Thanks guys

Jarrell

indexed just means the turntable mechanism 'knows' where the tracks are and stops at the right place by itself rather than you lining it up by eye

[reklein]

I agree with Selector,in that the cost and maintenance is worth it. After all you get what you pay for and the effects are worth working for. To me working on the railroad is the fun and buying it is the pain. However I don't seem to mind buying the tools to "giter done".

[CascadeBob]

For the information of those people viewing this topic who model in N scale, Walthers has announced the availability of their 130' turntable in N scale. This TT has programmable indexing for up to 60 poistions. Their ad can be found on page 22 of the April 2006 issue of "Model Railroader". It's a bit expensive at $299.98 list, but I'm sure you can find it at a discount somewhere. They also have an N scale roundhouse with add-on stalls available. I assume this is the same TT that jecorbett is talking about in his above posts, except it's in N scale. I was hoping I wouldn't be forced to use my old plastic Heljan TT from years ago.

[claycts]

We have (3) on the one we are building. Main yard is the 106ft Walthers. Great easy to use and worth the time. #2 is the Walthers 90 ft, could never get it smooth on the powered system it is now an ARMSTRONG on a branch line. #3 is the Heljan 98 with the walthers power. The HARD work of a member to work out a mocroswicth system has it wworking for 10 locos (7) garden and a 3 stall. All in all the big time, space amd expense has been worth it even the armstrong has its fans in the club that want to work it. We have an update party on that one planned to get it automated in the near future. We are 100% DCC and it is neat to turn the Big Boy in the main terminal and be making up another freight run with an 0-8-0!

[Anonymous]

Wow, does this open a pandora's box.
I had a TT on my last N-Scale layout, and I'm reusing it on my new one. It's a Bowser N-Scale model. I don't even know if they still make them. It can hold even my longest 4-8-2 PRR M1 Mountain with a long-distance tender on it, but that's about the limit, which is perfect for me.
The Bowser came pre-built with a pit and pit rail. All I had to do was screw together some parts for the
bridge and slide it in.

On space:
Many many articles emphasize how much space a turntable and roundhouse take up on a layout, but I disagree. It's a matter of how you place it. In my case, I put it at the end of a yard, on a 14" wide shelf section. The very END of the section widens out to 21", but that's really only for about 2 linear feet, so it doesn't take up much room at all, and that gives me room for the TT and an 8-stall roundhouse ( modified the classic Heljan/Concor/Walthers kit)
All the tracks in the yard terminate at the TT pit, so now I can run an engine around a train by putting it on
the TT, turning to another track, and running it back out. Compared to the space I'd take up with a double-ended yard, the TT is BIG savings. This way, I only need a ladder at one end, and my sidings are maximum length.

On operation:
On my old layout, I drilled tiny holes in the pit wall, put lamps behind them, mounted a photo cell on the TT bridge, etc. I mounted a slow-speed gearmotor under the TT. In other words, I made my own optically-sensored indexing system. It did work, but it was a colossal pain to build and maintain.
I also found that it really is of very little value. Sure, it's cool to just select "track number 3" and watch the TT spin to that spot and stop by itself. But honestly, at the end of the day, "SO WHAT?"

In its current incarnation, I am still driving the table with a slowspeed motor. But there will be no indexing. Instead, I wired the motor to a 5-position rotary switch. Center is off. One click right is slow clockwise. Two clicks right is fast clockwise. Same thing for left.
Now, you just turn the rotary switch, when the bridge gets close to the track you want, you click to the slow/crawl speed, and it's very easy to line up the rails by eye (yes, even in N-Scale).
It is simple, reliable, easy to use.

I'm not a big fan of a hand-spun TT. There are problems with people knocking engines off the bridge (the more times you stick your mitts in there, the more likely this will happen). And, you have to devise some type of locking mechanism to keep the bridge steady after you spot it. With a slowspeed gearmotor running the bridge, the motor keeps the bridge in one spot.

--------
Summary: I love my TT, I'd always incorporate it into any layout, there are ways to not make it take up too much space. I would always motor-drive it, but not bother with the indexing. Total cost on mine was about $60 15 years ago. I'm sure it's more now, but you don't have to spend hundreds of dollars on an elaborate indexing mechanism to have a motorized reliable TT. The motor drive I used actually
came out of an old remote-control TV (the kind from the 1960s that had a dial selector that was motor-driven with a slowspeed gearbox). I just put a heavy piece of rubber tubing over the shaft, braced it against the rim of the TT disc under the table, and that drives it nice and slow.