A small HO turntable

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
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I needed a small 65 foot HO turntable with indexing capability. I looked at all sorts of ideas including kitbashing and Atlas turntable, but I discovered that Firebox Models makes a resin conversion with side girders and wooden deck that is made to fit the N scale Walthers 130 foot turntable. I completed the conversion last night and it looks great and runs fine. It would be useful for HOn3, Sn3 and On30 too. It also just fits into the space I allocated for a turntable. Looks just like the Tonopah and Goldfield RR turntable at Goldfield. I am very pleased with it. - Nevin

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Nevin,

I have 2 of the Walthers N scale 130’ tables I rebuilt for my HO standard gauge layout. I simply removed the N scale deck assembly with the 2 screws and rebuilt the deck with new HO ties and code 83 rail. I used basswood for the wood decking. One represents a manual table with the push poles at each end. The other is at my main engine facility and represents an electrically powered version. I built a small operators shack on one end and used the N scale center power arch assy as such (slightly widened). Both have proven to operate reliably and fit my needs perfectly.

I’m not familiar with Firebox Models. Do you have an address for them?

Thanks,

Roger Huber

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Any photos of your projects???

Bob

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Yes photos would be great!

My Atlas turntable: http://www.oakhurstrailroad.com/Turntable%20web.htm

However, I’d like to see other options for the future.

Thanks,

Marty

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Interesting idea. How long is that N scale 130’ table bridge? What does that scale to in HO?

Is the N version the same design as the HO?

I have an HO 90’, and don’t care much for the design. I’ve heard the 130’ is much better.

Thanks.

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130’ in N works out to 70’ and a few inches in HO. SP had a 70’ turntable in Pacific Grove and it could turn P-6 Pacifcs used on the postwar “Del Monte” after they were equipped with short 9,000 gal rectangular tenders. Otherwise, the largest locomotives used on the Monterey Branch beyond the balloon track at Fort Ord were Harriman Standard 2-8-0’s.

That should give you some idea of what will fit.

Andre

You’re pretty

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fireboxmodels.com

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To model my 65 foot turntable. I scratch built a gallows frame over an Atlas mechanism. The pit was covered using strip wood weathered with alcohol and India ink.

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A couple of question about your coversion, which looks neat by the way.

Does the Atlas turntable require any sort of a pit to get it to sit at the proper level on the table? Fro your picture it looks like the table is recessed. Or are the lead tracks built up to a level that matches the table track level?

Also, how is the track attached to the turntable? Are the rails in grooves, or is it a piece of track just sitting in place. I have need of an HOn3 turntable and am wondering how easy it would be to replace what the table comes with is attached. The original poster’s idea of modifying the Walthers table looked good until I got to the Walthers turntable price.

Thanks

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Marty and Bob Greech: Thanks for posting photos of your turntables… I’m always interested in seeing build and bash jobs of other builders T/T’s. Here is my feeble attempt at a bash job on an Atlas HO scale turntable.

Bob/Iron Goat

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Looks great to me Bob, here is mine, I need to finish the edges and the shack.

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Yes. My turntable was placed in a recessed cutout in order to match the height of the lead tracks. As far as the rails, They are set into grooved slots. Mine came with code 83 rails. However, I removed and replaced those with code 70 by simply pulling off the existing ones with two new code 70 rails.

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Nice work Bob. I really like your stone work. Can you provide info on what you used to make them.

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Thanks, Bob… I used Dr. Ben’s Baby Bloc’s (link below) to build the wall, and Plastistruct “Diamond Tread Steel Plate” sheets to form the steel cat-walk around the perimeter of the T/T.

The photo should show how both the block wall was put in place, as well as the steel cat-walk area. I covered the original T/T deck with (driftwood stain) weathered bass wood strips, and scratch built the little shed that covers the Atlas motor area. Since the small Montana RR that I model only used their turntable to “turn” their two small locomotives, there is just one approach/departure track.I hope this helps… Bob/Iron Goat

http://www.debenllc.com/servlet/the-Doctor-Ben’s-Scale-Consortium-cln--dsh--Scale-Building-Material/Categories

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I took a different approach, burying the Atlas mechanism and making a pit turntable:

Here’s a link to the photo-essay about doing this:

http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/99558.aspx?PageIndex=1

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Excellent modeling, Mr. B !!! I also took the tour of your photo-essay link and found it extremely interesting… there’s a lot of great info there.

Thanks for sharing… Bob/Iron Goat

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Nice Turntables. Looking for ideas right now. My TT can only be about 8" Dia., so lots of research is in order. Thinking of doing a gallows scratch build. Any info or links would be helpful. [:)]

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Definitely worth reading. Thanks for posting.

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http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/2009_11_04_archive.html

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NICE! Peter Smith, Memphis