Let's See Your Atlas Turntables!

Bob....while my steam service area has changed quite a bit and I no longer use the Atlas turntable, here is what it looked like back a few years ago....

 

Alan

I have one it is fine for the price. I also have the matching round house. They work fine for my caliber of layout. The best part is they fit my budget.  

Alan and Shep,

 

What other than price are the good and bad with the Atlas Turntables?

I installed the Atlas turntable it works great, easy hook up and runs fine. looks good on my layout.

My Atlas turntable does not see a lot of use.  It has works fine when I do use it.

the only negatives I know of are it has no pit and the drive belt slips Sometimes.  I have been told you can replace it with a o ring with good results.  The positive points it allows people like me to have one on the layout.  They also can be made to look real nice with proper scenery. I am not there yet. Jon

Dennis....I like the Atlas turntable but in my particular case, I needed to be able to have a turntable that would allow longer steam locomotives to travel on its bridge.  So...at the time I was looking for a replacement, I met this "Al" guy and he convinced me to buy one of his turntables... 

 

The Atlas turntable has plenty of prototypical examples from which it was modeled.  Yes, the pit may bother some because of how the bridge and pit are designed to turn together....but I have seen folks paint the pit area so the pit movement is not noticeable.  Also...some modelers don't like how the bridge automatically stops at every track location rather than being able to index it to the track with which you want to align the bridge.  Still, it is a nice turntable that is certainly a bargain in today's market. 

 

Alan

Looks fine Alan.

 

Does it lay flat on the surface or is there anything that needs to be done below grade, like holes to be drilled or cut?

 

Does it come assembled, how much assembly is required?

 

Does it accept Ross/Gargraves track?

 

How many degrees between 2 tracks?

 

Did you use the manual operating feature or is it motorized?

 

My longest engines (Williams brass 2-8-2 and 4-6-2) are 23" long, they should be fine.

 

Best price I've seen is just above $200 for a new one.  Haven't checked our forum yet or EBay.  Would it be wise to get a used one?

Bob 

It lies flat.

The only assembly is mounting the small girders (see Alan's 1st photo) at the center of the bridge. Most people don't bother.

Not without a LOT of work. Stick with what's there.

21 stalls, would have been 24 without the shed. I dunno how that works out in degrees - too long out of school.

I use the manual. I think the speed with the motor is too fast.

My largest engines that fit are F3's and the MTH Railking Challenger (26", but has a slight overhang).

Buy new.

 

I really like mine.

Alan,

That turntable looks great and I really love all the Pennsy Steam Engines. 

Thanks guys

 

I'm looking at maybe building up the "ground" around the perimeter of the TT, except for where the tracks will go, to make it look less like a flat plate slapped down on top of the layout.

For me,  not having room for anything larger, it was squishing in the small Atlas turntable or having nothing at all.

Joe

 

 

As it is I'm going to have to add a 2 foot wide by 4 foot angled extension at the end of the layout to accommodate the TT and redo the trackwork in that area.

 

There was something lacking there anyway and I think the TT was it

 

Now to find the best price!

Pulled the trigger and ordered one from Norm's O Scale for a great price.

 

Time to redo the redo on my track!!!

 

Let's see some more photos

Keep us posted Bob!

I will probably do the same, but since I am still working on starting the
benchwork, it does not need to sit in a box! >GRIN>

Dennis

Dennis
Piscataway, NJ


On Tue, Aug 19, 2014 at 4:18 PM, O Gauge Railroading On Line Forum <
alerts@hoop.la> wrote:

Bob

Are you going to use toggle switches or cab 1 2 for the tracks coming off the TT?

 

This is in reference to controlling power to each  of the tracks coming off the TT for parking  a engine.

 

I'm just asking because the TT has a reputation from all that I have read that applying high voltage to turn the TT tends to through the little belt off the TT. It soon becomes a PITA.

 

If you would like I will send you pictures and info of the Atlas (item311) AC DC  small transformer that is a real neat little tool for running this TT. You can really fine tune the amount of volts and avoid a bunch of problems. Just a suggestion for ya.

good luck on the project.

Larry

Larry,

 

I can do it either way, really haven't thought about it yet.

 

How much voltage is required?  I have a couple of transformers I can use, an old Troller Transamp 1 (1 amp) with fixed AC and variable DC, a Z750, and an old American Flyer 1A.  Don't know if any of them can do the job, but I also have DCS, and CAB1-L/Base1-L, powered by a PH-180.

 

Send me what info yo have and I'll take a look, thanks!

Well Bob...It was a busy day for me so didn't get a chance to come back here until now...but...it seems too late for me to answer your questions as the guys have come through once again in helping you!!.  That is what is so great about this place!!

 

Bob...if you go online and take a look, you will find that there are folks that have done a lot of things to make the turntable look more prototypical.  In fact, Atlas says that they modeled it after a Santa Fe prototype although I could not find which prototype of which they speak.  Glad you found one and I know you are excited about it!!

 

Alan

 

 

Larry, if you could send me the pictures and the info on the Transformer Modification for the turntable. Thank you in advance, email is in my profile.

Hi Larry,

 

Would it be possible to send me the pics and info also. My email is in my profile.

Thanks,

 

Bob