Hi,
I need advice on how to properly install a turntable. Everything form construction to electrical
source. Surprisely, I couldn’t find anything in Model Railroader.
Thanks,
Chris
&
Obtain the dimensions of the turntable pit.
Draw it out to scale so that you know it will fit with the rest of the servicing/turning infrastructure. This is very important for placement of a suitable roundhouse, for example, because they don’t all have the same ‘spread’ in the radial tracks that enter each bay. Some have two bays, some three, some can be expanded/added to to make near round roundhouses.
Cut a circular hole large enough for the pit to sink into, and in a place where any wiring or additional accessories (motor housing?) will clear frame members. The TT should sit in the hole with the lip supporting it, so try to make it quite close to circular.
Run a lead up to the turntable from the yard or A/D tracks. Make sure the rail heights match those on the turntable. Turntable must be level.
Figure out how to install bay tracks, be they radials or parallel, depending on the engine house. Situate it all carefully before you start gluing tracks into place if the structure will merely sit atop them.
Wiring is according to the instructions. They are usually quite straightforward. Most TT’s are self-reversing, although the old Walthers 90’ kit that can have a motor added is not. You will need an auto-reverser or use a DPDT toggle.
That’s basically it. I strongly suggest you purchase only the newer built-up Walthers TT, unless you have one that works well already. The kit has a history of problems.
Crandell
Chris,
Which turntable are you considering?
Rich
This is the satellite image of my turntable. I’m in HO scale, and this one is adapted from the Atlas turntable and roundhouse:
The turntable is 9 inches across, which scales to about 65 feet. This is a very small turntable, not generally suitable for steam engines other than small switchers, or for large modern-era diesels. For my Transition Era diesels, though, it works fine.
Understand the size of your locomotives, first. Then, understand the size of a turntable and roundhouse facility. This one is about 2 feet on either side, and, as I said, it’s a small turntable and a small roundhouse. Think seriously about your layout space, and decide if you want to devote that much real estate to a turntable. Personally, I think turntables are among the most visually and operationally interesting things you can put on a layout, so if you do have room, go for it.
The standard Atlas turntable is a flat deck, not a pit. I modified mine a bit, as told in this link:
http://cs.trains.com/trccs/forums/t/99558.aspx?PageIndex=1
Obviously, it’s not a standard turntable installation, but you might get some ideas from it.
The lip on the Walthers TT pits (both the built-up and kit) are the same height as code 100 ties. Keep this in mind when laying track up to/on to the pit lip. I have a trouble-free (luckily) 90’ Walthers turntable kit with 12-stalls worth of Cornerstone roundhouse - it easily takes up 36"x36" on the end of my layout.
The turntable is motorized, and since my layout is DC (for now), you just have to remember which is the “head” end of the tuntable when lining it up to the stalls. Each stall track is individually powered via toggle switches. Lots of wiring, but fun to use.
Chris,Take a look at the post a few down from this one, ‘How to Install a Walther’s 130’ TT’. I put this on a few weeks ago just as a FYI.
- Bob
I love how an OP starts a thread with a question of apparent importance to him, and then 5 or 6 days later, we still haven’t heard another word from him.
Rich
Hi!
I have no clue if the OP is unable to get back on his posting or not - but there does seem to be a fair number of postings that are “what if” and “how to” questions that are just thrown out on the Forum “for fun”. Of course there is nothing wrong with that, and I for one often learn from the string. Still, a lot of us take these postings seriously and go through a lot of time and trouble to provide info to the OP, who perhaps has moved on to something else…
That being said, my personal “irk” is the OP whose first or second post is a question that causes polarization of the Forum, and is productive for no one - except perhaps the enjoyment of the OP - who is often never heard from again.
Rich and Mobilman44 - I was in the hobby as a kid 35 years go and I’m now getting back into it that I have some time and a bit more money. I scan this blog daily and have gained a lot of tips and tricks. I’m sure that it is frustrating when you share your knowledge when the OP doesn’t acknowledge your reply, but I’m sure that there are many viewers like myself that read your responses and learn a tremendous amount from what you have written. Keep sharing the info. If the OP doesn’t appreciate it, there many others who do.
Thanks, Dan
I have to agree with DanJo, I seldom post but scan the posts daily and I am able to pick up alot of useful info for others questions. I will take this time to thank those of you who share your knowledge with the many visitors like myself. Thank you, and please keep posting .
Jim
What Jim and Dan said!
-Bob