QUOTE (6c8h @ 19 Jun 2011, 20:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Does anyone find the Peco turntable a little too large for most applications ?

With my (poor) maths it comes out at a scale 72 feet-ish.
For info Castles and Kings could just fit on a 65ft, with Jubilees 5's and Halls on 63ft.

Sounless you have a large Pacific MPD-centric layout - they are a bit large... in diameter. ?

I would suggest that they make it like that so that all RTR models will fit on it - including a Duchess - in other words, a commercial rather than hobbyist choice to make it work for as many locos as possible.

Graham Plowman

 

hi

Harping back to the original post. I used a 1/4" (6mm) right angled stereo jack plug and socket from Maplins to pivot my Dapol TT and get the power onto the bridge rails.

You can use a mono one if you just need track power and don't need any indicator leds on the bridge.

Picture here shows the jack mounted on a proof of concept aluminium bridge - http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php...able-jack-plug/

Rob

 

Does anyone find the Peco turntable a little too large for most applications ?

With my (poor) maths it comes out at a scale 72 feet-ish.
For info Castles and Kings could just fit on a 65ft, with Jubilees 5's and Halls on 63ft.

Sounless you have a large Pacific MPD-centric layout - they are a bit large... in diameter. ?

 

Hi Graham Steve Thanks for your replies facinating subject .
Cheers Jim

 

QUOTE (PAPPA.B @ 15 Jun 2011, 05:32) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Guys Is this the original Minehead turtable and is it in it's original position i have a picture of 43xx on a 45ft table with extended rails because the engine was to long the picture also shows houses in the background. Sorry guys wouldn't know how to show this picture even if i did not sure that about copyright the picture is in the Great Western Railway Journal no 49. Not desperate for the imformation just curious i know that many turntables were scraped alongwith steam engines and a lot of presevation railways have bought items from other places .
Cheers Jim

Jim,

It is not the original Minehead turntable, however, it is a genuine GWR turntable which came from Pwllheli in North Wales.

Graham Plowman

 

Hi Mate,

It was originally a 55 foot table, it waited patiently for many years before being restored and relocated.
See link for information.

http://www.steelway.co.uk/SR-railway-turntable.php

Steve

 

Hi Guys Is this the original Minehead turtable and is it in it's original position i have a picture of 43xx on a 45ft table with extended rails because the engine was to long the picture also shows houses in the background. Sorry guys wouldn't know how to show this picture even if i did not sure that about copyright the picture is in the Great Western Railway Journal no 49. Not desperate for the imformation just curious i know that many turntables were scraped alongwith steam engines and a lot of presevation railways have bought items from other places .
Cheers Jim

 

For those interested, we have a gallery of photos of the Minehead turntable here:

http://www.mrol.com.au/Gallery_Infrastruct...7582C2324282424

Graham Plowman

 

Hi 34C,

This is why such a Forum is so very good, with such gems of information that are so relevant to the items we attempt to model&#8230; thanks mate. How true and indeed if you review the video at the very end you will see the turntable adjust itself to the loss of loco weight etc.

Steve

 

QUOTE (Prescotian @ 12 Jun 2011, 16:56) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>... But what a fantastic video of the GWR loco being turned by one man .... what balance and engineering to move 60 tons plus just like that
You are underestimating the mass that has to be moved too; the turntable bridge is not a lightweight item.

The majority of UK turntables were 'balance' types, and the drivers developed the judgement necessary to get their loco in the right position on the bridge. It had to be done by 'seat of the pants' judgement because the exact condition of the loco could vary from visit to visit, the amount of water in boiler and tender the largest variable factor, then the amount of coal in the bunker and firebed, and ash in the ashpan and smokebox, this applying particularly if the turn was midway through the working day on an out and home working.

It is very noticeable in the later steam depot designs that the work flow for a loco coming in shed is standardised so that disposal of ash and fire cleaning, watering and coaling, are all accomplished before the loco runs on to the turntable. This was for no trivial reason, there were a significant number of larger classes that although their wheelbase would fit for length on a 70 foot turntable, they could not be got to balance, unless the tender was well loaded.

For those so inclined, a little tinkering with the Peco model using the contact studs with stronger springs, can make this unit act as a balance type, which gives a nice effect as the locos run on and off.

 

QUOTE (PAPPA.B @ 12 Jun 2011, 15:08) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Steve Thanks for that some good footage there is that a 93xx on the turntable what cracking engine. My family and i took a ride on the Westsomerset railway many years ago our engine was a Pannier Tank on that day.I have a picture of a 43xx on a 45ft turntable at Minehead it shows 6ft extention bars as the 43xx was to long.The engine has the early BR logo the picture isn't dated.I also have pictues of Gloucester shed which had the same design turntable but was bigger at least it is shown with a Castle being turned.
Cheers Jim

The loco is the "converted Prairie Tank" that the WSR re-built into a tender loco.

The turntable reminds me of the Hornby Dublo 3-rail version...

 

Many thanks for your comments ... I'll have tp persuade "the holder of the purse strings" to allow to me to go Peco.

But what a fantastic video of the GWR loco being turned by one man .... what balance and engineering to move 60 tons plus just like that

 

Hi Steve Thanks for that some good footage there is that a 93xx on the turntable what cracking engine. My family and i took a ride on the Westsomerset railway many years ago our engine was a Pannier Tank on that day.I have a picture of a 43xx on a 45ft turntable at Minehead it shows 6ft extention bars as the 43xx was to long.The engine has the early BR logo the picture isn't dated.I also have pictues of Gloucester shed which had the same design turntable but was bigger at least it is shown with a Castle being turned.
Cheers Jim

 

Hi Bumpkin,

Thanks for the feedback, I am very happy with the results but it's even better in the flesh. It certainly puts some pressure for the modelling around it to be up to standard. But it's all a challenge we enjoy.

Regards

Steve

 

Hi PAPPA.B

Have a look at the GWR turntable in action:

Regards

Steve

 

Yes i think it would be ok for a none fuctioning model bought one myself and its a tad flimsy the plastic was a bit twisted . I'm modelling GWR although it is simular to the GWR turntable it it is not a model of any i've seen pictures of . I need one on my layout so not sure how i'm going to do that. As said above the peco is much better but a lot more money.
Jim

 

That rock wall background looks brilliant!

 

The Dapol turntable is based on the hand operated GWR designed over-girder version and thus common to that region. It's a nice static model but I would not waste your time trying to automate it. I prefer the well style turntable as it's far more typical throughout the UK and makes for a more interesting scene in my opinion. The Peco kit has contacts and has been successfully automated which I am trying to replicate.

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j387/L...tableJuly09.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j387/L.../NewImage-1.jpg

http://i1083.photobucket.com/albums/j387/L...ableFeb2011.jpg

I have found a link to how this is achieved if you are interested.

Steve

 

I built a Dapol TT too... it's been in the cupboard for years. I've got a Peco one now. I went the extra mile and bought a geared 1rpm motor for it from the states. It's on a direct drive from the motor shaft and is quiet and smooth. I know people use other methods, but the one's I've seen on you tube always seem rough and very noisy.

 

I second the above two posts. The Peco kit is well worth the significantly greater cost, and designed to be motorised. If you like the look of the Dapol kit, you could modify the Peco to whatever degree takes your fancy, grafting on the Dapol sides to make the overgirder type bridge this represents. (No clue at all to how common this style was in the UK, undergirders in a well seem to have been the norm in the UK.)

 

I have the PECO turntable myself - easily motorised using a 'clearbox'motor. Also have a Heljan turntable - ready motorised. Dapol one (the old Airfix 3/- kit) is very flimsy and will take a lot of effort to motorise. I have seen them done using Meccano gearing or even old record player drives - but a lot of work involved...................

 

The Dapol turntable is really best suited to a static display and requires a significant expenditure of time and effort to make a working model (like the loco kits). I built one and fabricated some contacts from brass strip. I put it in a well made by SE Finecast. I couldn't get it to work smoothly and eventually gave up. I much prefer the Peco turntable kit that I'm using at present. Although the Dapol kit is cheaper out of the box, it's not a good savings in my experience.

 

The Dapol kit - no contacts - I had to make my own & motorising - cannot help on that, I manually moved mine.