I found a reason for a turntable: maybe?

You will probably need a 1000 square foot room to PROPERLY model The Altoona Works, in O Scale!

Interesting use of a turntable.  Here is a link to a webpage that has a small map of the entire complex.

 

http://www.altoonaworks.info/graphics/jbs_2011.png

Joe if you are interested in a smaller example of modern turntable use check out CSX's Willard Ohio terminal. They have a pretty neat setup.

JOE ARE YOU GOING TO BUY 3 tt OR FIND SOME TO MAKE ONE FOR 3r, 2r and G?

Joe,

 

The BNSF yard in Sheridan WY has a turntable that is used often.  You don't have to model a huge backshop to justify one.

 

ChipR

you might want to take a look and Conway yard for NS.  Active turntable with engine facility and a whole let less room than Altoona.  For a whole different approach try the Western Maryland Scenic RR.  I can't remember the name at the end of the line but they still use  turntable there to spin the steamer before runs around the train for the return trip.

 Well, I could fake it and have one O gauge do both.

The G is another story. What about my HO and soon to be S scale???? Might be enough to make me hold out.

 Oh yeah, I want Lionel to release that coal tipple, and then I need one in G scale!!!

 Can't find a pic of the turntable at the BNSF yard in Sheridan??

http://www.rail-videos.net/video/view.php?id=11177

Ooops.

Wow, this looks big!

http://thecrhs.org/ConrailFacilities/Yards/Conway

the link has a satelite view of the turntable to the north a bit:

http://web2.userinstinct.com/3...inal-trainmaster.htm

Willard, Ohio that is

 Maybe just the front building in Altoona against a wall??

http://www.altoonaworks.info/graphics/jbs_2011.png

nice map!

The Altoona shops are really nice, but are there pictures or plans of smaller repair shops and/or diesel storage buildings?  I see a lot of CSX and NS in central NJ, I'm thinking there should be smaller storage buildings and shops in the northeast region.  The space needed for the Altoona plans maybe a stretch for some of us.

You would be amazed what you can accomplish with selective compression and some serious lying!

 

Simon

CSX's Radnor Yard in Nashville TN still has an active turntable and roundhouse.

 

https://maps.google.com/?ll=36.091906,-86.752596&spn=0.00427,0.004119&t=h&deg=90&z=18

Joe, works for me. It's your RR do what ever makes you happy. I plan to model a somewhat similar scene from the NYC but there's no way I could model the entire building inch for inch. I plan to selectively compress it and can capture the look and feel of it with less stalls.

 Wow, that is quite a yard!

 Almost by fate, I turn on the TV and there's a show about the working's of steam engines and their history. They go on to talk about the major RRs use of steam and showed UP's former, and now current steam program in Wyoming.

 It was a great program. It showed Winston's pics of the fading steam era. It showed how the N&W kept running steam to pull coal trains. I missed the first half.

 "trains unlimited"

Dear Sir,

 

The DM&E / SOO Line still has one.. The Southern RR Spencer Shops museum still has

one working too. That is a neat place..

 

Also, I have a AAA table I can part with.. 

Dan

Thats the great thing Joe, you can model what you like and in your own way.  I have chosen to incorporate Shaffers crossing into my layout....now that is gonna be some work...especially getting the new found real estate past the mrs.........

Joe,

 

I will be able to hook you up with the transfer table and turntable shortly for your idea here.

 Oooh, a transfer table like they have at the GE Erie plant! Hmmmmmm.

Here's a new C30-7 coming off the transfer table at Erie in 1981. Rails into buildings on both sides of the transfer table, erection shop on one side, test facilities on the other side.

Google satellite view

 

Do you guys have any experience with the Atlas turntables? How well do they work? Easy to install?

 

Thanks.

 Wow Ace, what a great overview that provides. I did not know there were 2 transfer tables. I did not know it was so big of an area of buildings!!

 Again, I would have to do just a compressed model at best.

Rail Dawg you need to read what GROMET has to say in this link

https://ogrforum.ogaugerr.com/d.../lastReply#lastReply

 

 

Will do. Thanks Pops.

 

 

OK how does one go about getting a 34" Millhouse Turntable?

 

Very nice.

 Here's Al's site:

http://www.studiozphoto.com/Millhouse.html

it has his email listed on the page.

Class Z coming off the turntable. This 2-6-6-2  Mallet is the largest I'll ever have so the 24" Millhouse turntable worked out well.

 

Not my pix, but my old home town still has an active turntable. Back in the day (late 60's) I used to ride my bike down there and was allowed to crawl all over it.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/d...4630076851/lightbox/

Ouch 1500 bucks for the Millhouse. I'll bet it's super nice...

 

Now tell me what you all think of the Atlas turntables?

 

Thanks!

This is my new turntable, and it is 2 rail. Not in the same league as the others, but works for me

 

Steve

I don't know how active it is any longer, but there is a transfer table at the old shop buildings in Livingston, Montana.  And a turntable too.  Buildings down both sides of the transfer table.  This is the old Northern Pacific facility now owned by the MRL.  It was pretty quiet when I was there, but then I have of a way of not finding active trains when I go looking for them.  Everyone else that doesn't care, like my sister or girlfriend, sees them all the time. 

 

Btw Joe, if you like sd70ace's (and I know you do), they look good in MRL black and blue heading up the hill to Bozeman pass.

 

Jim

 Yeap. I told myself I can't have them all. Maybe just a few more???

Plastic, 24" max, no pit... An OK budget turntable.

Diamond Scale is still around.  There are parts available, you can fabricate one, as I did several years ago.  Surprisingly, a well built TT, even doing the work yourself is some cash.  Here is a link to a slideshow of the build photos 

Best wishes on your project.

Mike CT

Engineer Joe,

 

I have a 33" AAA table for sale for a grand. If you are interested. Works swell. getting rid of it because I bought a smaller one from Ross. 18". My modeling trend changed from main line

rail to branch line switching.. so got rid of the big power. the AAA table was never used! I had tried it to see it spin. That is it. 

 

dan.bigda@boxcarservices.com

 

Dan

I don't know, I may not be the best person to ask.  You might want to speak with the Mrs. about it?  Although I'm almost guaranteed to say yes.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95FHoNPpZ7M

 

There is no need to have buildings near your turntable. Here is a video I took of a Southern Pacific unit being turned on a turntable in the old Cotton Belt yard at East St. Louis, Illinois in 1994.  The roundhouse was long gone by this time. Gary.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-R3v5CZfGmc

For smaller terminals, hard to beat the ex-GN facility at Grand Forks, ND.  The shop building can change out traction motors and do most repairs needed for many of the local units.  Been in the building a few times, when I was in college there I worked as a pizza delivery guy and made a few runs there.  Note that one of the tracks leading to the turntable has been removed and a ramp put in place so that snow can be removed during winter.

 

https://maps.google.com/maps/m...pn=0.002153,0.004128

 Geez, I'd like to buy that house across the street at Grand Forks!

Joe that part of GF had flood water in it a few years back so you might want to consider a HOUSE BOAT for that area.

 Ahhh Ok. If you don't want me near you just say it!!!

It is a pretty good size yard their. There is a 4 lane bridge over the center of the yard. If you follow the outlet of the yard west about a mile you will see the "Y" on the main line. That is where the SP 4449 TOOK on water when it was running out to Michigan a few years back. If you need a realestate agent to look for a house let me know I have a wonderful one living 3 blocks North of the yards.

Joe I found this for you. The Rail yard in GF run right behind the UND main campus but I never saw Lucy out there.

 

Rail Dawg:  I put an Atlas turntable on my layout because I didn't have a large area to work with and I didn't have the depth underneath without having to drop the lower level storage sidings.  There are some cheap qualitites to the Atlas turntable like the tiny wheels that aren't firmly mounted inside the table that allow it to spin.  If you take it apart like I did, watch out for parts dropping onto the floor and bouncing all over the place!

 

Right out of the box, the turntable isn't very impressive looking, but I used some flat black and flat gray spray paint to dress up the pit, added a bulkier overhead structure with a light that flashes when in motion and lighted the control shack.  It's not the Hi-rail look I'd really like to have, but then, you can see I still haven't started scenicing so there's no telling how it may turn out.

 

BTW - Dave Hikel engineered a nice and very inexpensive solution to control the turntable with DCS.