Train turntable not loco turntable

[Anonymous]

Thanks for a prompt reply Gregg, but I mean Train (about 120 to 140 cm diameter) instead off just loco turntable. Is there anybody that can provide me with plans, any idea about the central free rotational device, how to energize tracks?

[Anonymous]

Nacho, I think I see what you want to do...Because of very limited space you want to be able to turn the entire train end for end without using a reverse loop or wye.

Check with a shop that sells cabinetry supplies. There is a plate and bearing assembly that they sell that is used for making "Lazy Susans"...they will know what you are talking about.... These fixtures come in various sizes and can handle "tables" up to several feet in diameter. Seems to me that this would at least be a starting place...Vic

[Anonymous]

Just to clarify - you're talking about making a turntable that has a diameter of around 4 foot or larger? That would take up (very) roughly the same amount of space as a reversing loop or turning wye (using 24 inch radius curves)! There's a book by Iain Rice that Kalmbach publishes, called "Small, Smart and Practical Track Plans", in which he describes what he calls a "cassette", that may be of interest. By using a cassette, you would have 2-3 in wide piece that could be removed, rotated 180 degrees, and replaced, all manually. When not in use you could remove it and store it somewhere.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Bill for your prompt reply.It would take the same space as a reversing loop but without the same storage capacity that the turntable provides because there is no need of space consuming points even if using 3 ways switches. In fact what I'm looking for is a combination of train turntable and the casette you mention because the max. widht will be 35 or 40 cm allowing 5 or 7 paralel tracks not the construction of the entire 120 cm diamenter circumference. Do you know if there is any plan available of this type of construction and how to solve a free troubleless running.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Vic for a prompt reply but I live in Barcelona, Spain and I have no idea what a "Lazy Susans" is.

[Anonymous]

nacho2 - Could you you Email me at [e-mail]? I think I see what you are getting at and have some ideas, but I need to send you some drawings to make myself understood (not because of English vs. Spanish, just because they're hard to explain in words.)

[Anonymous]

Good Evening Nacho, Did not know you were in Barcelona....A Lazy Susan is simply a round wooden disc mounted on a plate and bearing assembly. Generally they are set in the middle of a table and used for serving food. I have no idea of what they would be called in Spainish. Go to www. google.com and search lazy susan. I found several sites there that show the plate and bearing assembly. Take Care....Vic

[Anonymous]

Hi Nacho; Your idea is interesting and a "lazy Susan" or rotating platform might do the trick. But, I noticed you were talking multiple tracks which might cause an alignment problem for tracks that are not on center. I'm assuming here that you want the multiple tracks "on" the turntable or are you wanting to stage the trains in an area beyond the turntable on multiple tracks similar to an engine yard?

Also, if space is limiting, you might want to consider some kind of elevator sceme. Just an idea....Walt

[dknelson]

Somewhere in my memory is the recollection that the late Ben King had a train turntable at the end of his small but incredible layout. It was hidden. Check the Model Railroader index and it might have an article or two on his layout that showed this.
Model Railroad Planning had an article about sector plates which are sort of half-turntables.

[thirdrail1]

OK, now I see what you intend. This type of device is actually fairly common in Great Britain as a hidden staging or "fiddle" yard. I am not aware of any British model forums, but there may some out there and I am sure they would know exactly what you are talking about. You might find more articles about such things in the British model railway press too. Buena suerte.

[thirdrail1]

To change the subject, Nacho2, since you are from Barcelona. What happened to Ibertren, who used to make N scale models? There are some beautiful old time Madrid Zaragoza y Alicante passenger cars they manufactured that are put up on eBay now and again but somone evidently thinks they are made of gold for the price they get bid up to!

[Anonymous]

The tracks don't have to be parallel along their whole length. Make the center one straight across the center of the circle, and the rest parallel to that one except towards the edges of the circle where they curve out to hit the edge at right angles.

[Anonymous]

Thanks Walt. Alignment problem can be solved using flex track for the tracks that are not in the middle. Have you any plan or drawing for the elevetor sceme you mentioned, that might be a solution.

Ignacio.

[Anonymous]

Gregg check mabar.com for some discontinued items; Ibertren is already dead. But if you are looking for this kind of equipment check Electrotren a fine spanish model manufacturer (mainly HO scale), a couple of years ago they engaged a german engineer from Marklin and their model are nowadays fine and really appreciated among collectors at a very affordable prices. If yor are intereseted pls e mail me and I will sent you other webs you can check [e-mail]. On the other hand someone told me that trains turntable are communly used in UK but as you I didn't find at least untill now any british forum.

[Anonymous]

Hello Nacho...You might want to present your question at www.thegauge.com also. There are a number of British and European modelers on that forum and perhaps someone there has some good ideas too. Take Care....Vic

[BR60103]

This is a British idea; they appear in a lot of their track plans.
One of my friends said he built one using the hub of a bicycle wheel; he cut into the wall and one end rotated inro the next room.
You will want walls on it to keep the trains on.
For electrical connections, think about a hi-fi or stereo plug (6mm diameter) from the layout and sockets on the turntable. You unplug before you turn it around.
An extra idea: instead of a centre pivot, make a large, flat, smooth table and slide it around. 2 pieces of wood align it where it joins the layout.
This is more like the cassette system. You can even have several of them with a train on each.

David

[Anonymous]

the hub of a bicycle, that sounds really a good idea! thanks a lot. Any other idea to energize tracks avoiding plug an unplug like the commercial already made normal loco turntables.

[Anonymous]

Nachoo - The Iain Rice book I mentioned suggests using either a knife-blade switch or one of those sliding-bolt door locks for both alignment and to complete the circuit to the tracks on the turntable.
Bill

[Anonymous]

Hi Ignacio, No, sorry no plans. It was just something that came to me as I was reading your posting and the other replies.

I think something could be put together if it fitted your needs. If you wanted it just to shuttle trains to, say a lower level, then only one platform would be needed. If you were looking for it to be the actual storage center then you would have to build a structure of maybe 4 or 5 shelves seperated by a solid spacer. The shelf units would have to be fairly ridgid figuring you would want them around 3 or 4 feet long. The mechanism for raising and lowering would be the tricky part. I would figure a threaded rod in each corner that would be mounted on some kind of box on the floor with a open bearing that the rod could thread through. A sprocket gear with a threaded inside to match the rod. The gears would have to be connected to each other with a chain. Thus when one rod turned they all would turn the same amount. The top of the rods would fit into some kind of cup type bearing block on the bottom of the bottom shelf. As the rods turned to go down they would pass through the bearings on the top of the base. If your really wanted to get fancy you could put the base on casters to roll it away and roll another one into place....(chuckle)

I enjoy coming up with crazy ideas like this as sometimes you actually hit on something.....Walt

[Anonymous]

just to change the subject for a moment, iain...if you read this forem would you please contact me ([e-mail]).i have a question or two on how to make the"loleta and mad river" with contininous running at the lighthouse end with a draw bridge and not sacrifice the two harbors nor the village at engine house end. thanx in advance, cheers!