NSCALEMIKE's picture of a CF-7 on a turntable made me wonder - how often are turntables used today? I have an ulterior motive in the question - I'm putting together a new modern era layout and as I review track plans I keep seeing turntables on them. I know U.P. has this one in Denver: William
In Dunsmuir, California Union Pacific still uses a turntable that has been there since the days when S.P. cab-forwards used to gather there in great numbers to assist consists over the Siskiyous. I saw a modern diesel sitting on it as recent as last October. The Dunsmuir turntable looks alot like the one in your pic.
I know that there is a turntable at BNSF's Vancouver Washington Yard. It looks like a short table to me and is used exclusivly for tunring locomotives as their is no space for a roundhouse (and I don't think there ever could be. For the past couple months there's been a busted p SD-40 on the table. It has some cab damage. I don't remember the number but it had one of those snow shield extensions above the walkway by the blower. Of course, their is also the Brooklyn Roundhouse and table in UP's Brooklyn (Portland or) Yard, but while owned by the railroad, it is used specifically to keep the 4449 and other historic society and privatly owned Engines. Also
I know off-hand of two other BNSF turntables still around....Amarillo, TX and Eola, (Aurora) Illinois.
There is 2 turntables local to me, one is for the Western Maryland scenic Railroad, (Tourist attraction line) Not a class 1 railroad. THE other one is in Cumberland Maryland, in CSX's railyard. I believe they use it on a regular basis! I would guess once a day, at least, its remnants of the days of the B&O, in the steam era as well.... If I'm not mistaken its a 115 foot turntable. I have pictures of this, with a GP-40-2, an a RDMT slug on it being turned. I can't post pictures of it right now, But I get a chance to find the disk these pictures are on, I'll make note to post them!
I wonder what they are still used for... The one in the picture above appears to the untrained eye to be used pretty much as a four-way switch more than anything else. In fact, that picture was taken as the operator routed the switcher onto the second track from above.
I'm sure there are others, but one scenario is three locomotives in a consist, two facing east and one facing west. The consist will be heading westbound but the lone westward locomotive has a bad ordered cab control stand...but is otherwise functional. (or maybe it is the only unit without A/C) The hostlers would need to turn one of the other units to function as a lead unit in this case. Another situation would be an A-B-B set of GP60's changing direction, for obvious reasons.
I know there is a turntable in my town (Raleigh, N.C.) that dates back to the Seaboard Air Line days... I have pictures of it in use in the late 90's and think it may still be used today. Apparently it was used to service a roundhouse that once existed (that I never saw) Harold
There was one in Grafton,WV I saw a CSX SD40-2 #8184 get turned on it about 3 years ago. I had an oppotunity to tour the yard and office but I don't recall If it is still there. There was talk of dismantling it and moving it to Elkins, WV for the new Tourist line down there. Rumored steam this summer? There used to be one here in Buckhannon, but has been filled in years ago.
You might find this interesting, as I did, but in this day and age you would not think that they would build a "new" turntable for a railroad. Well, the Strasburg RR in Pennsylvania might actually get just that! The state has earmarked funds to construct a new Amtrak station at Paradise (the current SRR terminus at the Harrisburg line). The station's purpose is to provide daytrippers a direct interchange with the SRR. It will include parking for buses and indded, a turntable to allow SRR to turn the engines instead of running around them. Sure the SRR is only a tourist line but just the fact that they are building a new turntable is very exciting. Other turntables in my neck of the woods include Port Jervis (Ex-Erie), The Danbury RR museum (Ex-NY,NH&H) and the LIRR turntable in Greenport (Not operational at this time but being restored) Russ
Bill...That turntable in Dunsmuir was the first one I saw when I first came to Californin in 1955 to work for the SP. I remember seeing a steam engine on it but didn't have time to stop and watch it turn. Back then a steam engine was a steam engine regardles of type.
Turntables may not be as plentiful as in decades gone by. But there still are a few around. I haven't paid enough attention in recent years, so could be wrong... In my state, there should be at least five left: Glendive (BNSF), Great Falls (BNSF), Helena (MRL), Missoula (MRL), and Whitefish (BNSF.) Boxcab E50
there is a turn table in redbank that im sure queensland rail still uses, its close to the workshops and loco facilities.
I found a photo of the SAL turntable, in use: I went by last week and it appears that it is still functional and used. Harold
I completely forgot about this until I went to krugetales to see if there were any updates, bt in the begining of Jan he had an update with Picks of the Sheridan Table
i know of a two places that have turntales still in use today. ns yard in knoxville,tn. and ns yard roanoke ,va. they use these to run the engines into the diesel shops for repairs. they also do this for another reason if the train they are going to put the engine on is going west and the cab is facing east and their using this engine for the lead unit it has to be turned. they did have a turntable at rogersville,tn. back in the 40's or 50's but i didn't get to see it.
