Turntable

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

I'm thinking of incorporating a turntable into the Haythornthwaite & Westby Tea Station.  Assuming there are no ready 009 options I suppose my choices are an OO turntable (probably too long), an N gauge turntable (looking off-scale), or building my own 'visible' features onto some sort of mechanism.  Advice?

[rod335]

In reality turntables were expensive and unnecessary for most UK narrow gauge railways, which were almost always built and operated on a shoestring. The only NG railways I can think of offhand that had turntables were the |Glyn Valley (statutory requirement) the Festiniog and the Lynton and Barnstaple, neither of which made much, if any use of them. Most other railways didn't have, or indeed, need them. They were not operated like standard gauge lines with the rails closer together!

[Jeff Schumaker]

Tom,

Check out http://www.kitwoodhillmodels.com/oo9-90mm-turntable/.

Usual disclaimers - I'm just a satisied customer.

Jeff S.

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

Rod - point very well taken.  My H&WTR will be largely freelance (set in India) so I have given myself a lot of artistic license, but, again, point taken.

Jeff - thanks very much.  Interesting and tempting.

[B.Meldon]

Turntables in 009 are not at all easy to make yourself.
The problems are with the electrical connections to the turntable and aligning the tracks both as it turns and vertically. Both have to be exactly correct or you will get problems.
So although a turntable may be desirable I would recommend against having one.

Brian Meldon

[engerth399]

I think Peco still do their 009 turntable, I was able to get the HOm version a couple of years ago.

Peter

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

Thanks Brian.  I like a challenge so I'm definitely building one now.

[clayliner]

Good for you, Tom! - you go for it. I've not tried it myself, but if I were starting from scratch I'd look out for something nice and circular to start with, like an old CD (size depending on the length of loco you'd be looking to turn). Supply to the tracks might be via wiper contacts from the main track or a separate lead, in which case you might want to turn it on a there-and back basis rather than always turning it in the same direction (in which case you'd get your cables in a twist, obviously).

I'm sure you'll manage to put something together but please keep us updated on progress so that we can all learn from your experience!

David.

[cp.409067]

*

Avoid twisted wires by using a jack plug and socket for the central pivot AND to supply the rails.


CP

[Mark Shenstone]

I might be stating the obvious but wouldn't Peco's N gauge well type turntable kit make a good starting point? Though that depends on how big your largest loco is going to be.

[Turin 60]

*

Avoid twisted wires by using a jack plug and socket for the central pivot AND to supply the rails.


CP

Good plug Chris!!!!

John.

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

Thanks again, everybody.

Great progress has been made on the H&WTR turntable ... in my head.  The turntable well will be 82 mm in diameter (my largest hole cutter) which will accommodate the wheelbase of all my locos.  It's just for occasional turning of my locos (of course they are tank engines that don't need it) so it will be placed between my engine shed and the rest of a station - with just the two approach tracks 180

[Chris Ford]

There is a two part article coming up in 009 News written by Colin Herrington on how he made a 009 specific turntable using a plastic lid as a foundation and a cheap Japanese motor powered through the normal controller. Jan/Feb issues.

[Tom Haythornthwaite]

Can't wait!!!

[Stan Williams]

Frizinghall Models,   FMR  from Baildon,  West Yorkshire.

They advertise in the 009 Newsletter.

Although purchased around 2005,  they supplied a turntable mech that fitted under a Peco N gauge turntable.

We have one on our Gairloch & Wester Ross layout with it slightly altered to look more 4mm scale.

It can be used electrically or manually  ie similar to a meccano mech.

We can get an  NG15 tender loco on the turntable.

Stan.