Fastrack Turntable

That would be awesome! But also have larger sizes available for those of us that have the larger steam engines, Say 30" or 32".
But sadly I feel, That this wouldn't come to fruition, simply because there wouldn't be a large enough market for the turntable and the price would be as much, if not more, than a top of the line Legacy Engine.

I have considered building a turntable bridge with motors and TMCC internal to the bridge.  Driven wheels at each end move the bridge which pivots around a fixed post with slip rings for power - as opposed to the common practice of motor drives under the turntable pit that turn a shaft and the bridge above it.  This mimics the prototypes where a motor at one end rotates the bridge.  Driven wheels at both ends of the bridge (dual gear motors) provide the needed traction for heavy scale steamers.  The center post provides an axis of rotation but does not support the weight of the bridge and the loco on it.  All weight is on the driven wheels at the ends of the bridge.

I would love for Lionel to produce a motorized turntable bridge with a sounds built in.  A basic bridge 24" long, with an ability to extend the bridge to 32" would be nice.

Given the speculative high price of a Lionel plastic turntable.

The high quality aluminum turntables from Milhouse River Studios made by forum member CSX AL would be tough to beat.

https://www.studiozphoto.com/Millhouse.html

Especially since they have most of what your looking for aside from sound. I.e. great details,  tmcc / motorized operation etc.

I wouldn't hold your breath for that product to appear.

While it's a good idea, Lionel's kind of struggled in the turntable department since forever.

The prewar Standard Gauge no. 200 was manually operated and could only fit the tiny electrics, which didn't even need turntables.

The postwar battery-powered O gauge no. 375 was a slight step up, but I think most in the hobby (even those who are postwar purists) would like to ignore it.

I've learned that RTR turntables that are not super expensive and still perform well don't seem to come together.

I don’t think the demand would be able to give the ROI needed for a mass produced item for Lionel. Perhaps Ross or Milhouse could modify their units to offer fastrack decks.

I Have the 28 inch turntable from Millhouse  River Studios .  The machining of CSX Al's products is top notch. I added the auto indexing feature to the turntable last year.  The whole system runs like a fine watch.  Al provides excellent customer service and support.  If you purchase one from Al, you will not be disappointed with his made in America products.

A Maine customer,  Chris Cook

@Dylan the Train Man

While your dream of a Fastrack turntable is a nice one, I doubt that it will ever come true, as others have said. On my layout benchwork constructed with Mianne rails and legs, I planned on the location of my Bowser TT (not made for many years) and allowed for the dimensions / location, etc. in the design. From your pictures, it looks like you have the benchwork built and plywood mostly installed.

Many here on the Forum are using the new and recently improved Atlas O surface mount turntable.

Just a suggestion, and I don't know the bridge length of the Atlas turntable nor the height of the rails. My guess though is that your Fastrack can somehow be made to mate with the Atlas O track height on the TT bridge.

Good luck with the project!

Stan

@Dylan the Train Man posted:

My new layout will have a yard area, and I plan to include a 24" turntable. It's a pity that Lionel hasn't made one yet. Please, Dave at Lionel! Make a Fastrack Turntable!!!!

Here's the features I would want:

-Motorized and/or manual versions

-Command-Control with motorized version (by using an included command board or an AMC or LCS AMC2)

-Fastrack hookups

-Tubular Track-capable; also Atlas, Gargraves, Ross, MTH, etc. (with FT transition tracks)

-Realistic bridge, crew cabin, and turntable pit details

-Similar to Atlas's version

-Sound features from separate-sale shed (like the TMCC Gantry Crane shed)

-Crew figure in cabin

-LED in crew cabin

-LEDs to show direction of rotation

Sound features would include:

-TT motor

-Mechanical sounds, gears rotating, groans, clanks, etc.

-Yard crew chatter

-Background sounds of a loco servicing facility

-Maintenance sounds

Dylan, I applaud your suggestion. Even though there are other available turntables including: Atlas, Ross, and Millhouse River Studios, it does seem that a FasTrack turntable would be a very welcome future accessory for many modellers who exclusively use Fastrack.  AFAIK, none of the currently available off-the-shelf turntables provide a semi-rigid, non-adapted, snap connection to FasTrack.  There is this thread using an Atlas turntable with FasTrack, but every other solution I've found, requires a bench recess and the turntable and track to be screwed down to maintain alignment.  (Of course screwing everything down is good practice in my opinion, but not everyone wants to do this.)

I do see a potential market for an entry level FasTrack turntable with rudimentary electronic position control and integrated command control options if it could be sold at a ~$350-500 MSRP.

Some of the other features you mentioned could be offered as one or more separate sale add-on accessories.

@Dave Olson do you have an opinion on the potential commercial viability of a FasTrack turntable?

Thank you, SteveH

@Mikado 4501 posted:

I've learned that RTR turntables that are not super expensive and still perform well don't seem to come together.

Actually, the Atlas 24" TT works surprisingly well.