Let's see some roundhouses and turntables!

I recently installed an Atlas #6990 turntable onto my layout. My goal was to be able to display and/or select an engine to run around a single large loop. I wanted to run both DCS and conventional engines. I added a siding to the loop to be able drop off a consist when I exchanged engines to run. I also placed a Lionel Bascule bridge on the loop to add some interest for viewers.

          The turntable is currently functional although not totally complete. I still need to add doors to the roundhouse. I also want to install a Lionel Smoke fluid loader (6-37821) on one of the stems, but that is another story for another time.

          It took me several weeks to remove the old items from the layout, originally Washington D.C. area, to build and install the roundhouse, to install the roundtable and associated track system and to install the Atlas Connect switches (#6927) for each roundtable stem. This whole process was much than I originally thought it to be, but I managed to work through it.

          I will admit that the process of moving engines is more complicated than I imagined prior to installation. But you just have to follow all the steps and things work well.

          A word of caution on the Atlas Switch Connectors #6827, if you decide to use them. These are really great switches and I like them a lot. However, they are extremely hard to find. Secondly they need modification to work with O gauge wiring.  There are several write-ups on these switches in the OGR Forum.

Jim McGehee posted:

I recently installed an Atlas #6990 turntable onto my layout. My goal was to be able to display and/or select an engine to run around a single large loop. I wanted to run both DCS and conventional engines. I added a siding to the loop to be able drop off a consist when I exchanged engines to run. I also placed a Lionel Bascule bridge on the loop to add some interest for viewers.

          The turntable is currently functional although not totally complete. I still need to add doors to the roundhouse. I also want to install a Lionel Smoke fluid loader (6-37821) on one of the stems, but that is another story for another time.

          It took me several weeks to remove the old items from the layout, originally Washington D.C. area, to build and install the roundhouse, to install the roundtable and associated track system and to install the Atlas Connect switches (#6927) for each roundtable stem. This whole process was much than I originally thought it to be, but I managed to work through it.

          I will admit that the process of moving engines is more complicated than I imagined prior to installation. But you just have to follow all the steps and things work well.

          A word of caution on the Atlas Switch Connectors #6827, if you decide to use them. These are really great switches and I like them a lot. However, they are extremely hard to find. Secondly they need modification to work with O gauge wiring.  There are several write-ups on these switches in the OGR Forum.

First of all, you've got a beautiful setup! Second, is the turntable manual or powered, and if so, how? And on an off topic question, did you build these towers, and what did you use for those bricks?

Millhouse River Turntable

Wes97 posted:

Jim McGehee posted:

I recently installed an Atlas #6990 turntable onto my layout. My goal was to be able to display and/or select an engine to run around a single large loop. I wanted to run both DCS and conventional engines. I added a siding to the loop to be able drop off a consist when I exchanged engines to run. I also placed a Lionel Bascule bridge on the loop to add some interest for viewers.

          The turntable is currently functional although not totally complete. I still need to add doors to the roundhouse. I also want to install a Lionel Smoke fluid loader (6-37821) on one of the stems, but that is another story for another time.

          It took me several weeks to remove the old items from the layout, originally Washington D.C. area, to build and install the roundhouse, to install the roundtable and associated track system and to install the Atlas Connect switches (#6927) for each roundtable stem. This whole process was much than I originally thought it to be, but I managed to work through it.

          I will admit that the process of moving engines is more complicated than I imagined prior to installation. But you just have to follow all the steps and things work well.

          A word of caution on the Atlas Switch Connectors #6827, if you decide to use them. These are really great switches and I like them a lot. However, they are extremely hard to find. Secondly they need modification to work with O gauge wiring.  There are several write-ups on these switches in the OGR Forum.

First of all, you've got a beautiful setup! Second, is the turntable manual or powered, and if so, how? And on an off topic question, did you build these towers, and what did you use for those bricks?

First off thanks for the layout compliment.

The turntable is powered by a separate Lionel 1037 transformer. I leave it turned to a few volts to power the turntable and never touch again.

The towers are built to represent the Howard Street bridge located in Baltimore Maryland. The blocks are Styrofoam Building blocks  and I bought a box of them at Hobby Lobby.  I still seem them on the shelf at Hobby Lobby with all the paints and hobby construction  stuff.  One box built 4 towers with lots left over for future projects.

Well,...after all this tooling we have achieved solid construction and smooooth operation! Now it's time for ballast and get the roundhouse framing started.  

This is a Korber round house and Mill house turntable. The doors open and close with flip of switch. Still need to work on area around the house and table.

I saw this on another post and saved it. I thought it was a old round house. Maybe it was, but it certainly would make an interesting feature on a layout. The trucks park on the inside and the cars to be loaded hug the outside wall. 

Does anyone know if it was originally a roundhouse or did they kinda copy the idea?

Turntable is Diamond Scale.   Kober 304 house with one additional stall.  House floor is not part of the kit. 

The Diamond Scale design allows the TT bridge to float/ride on the the pit rails.  A modular TT that I built using the Diamond Scale design.   Click on the underlined to access a slideshow (160+ pictures of the build).

Jon S, it was a freight house.

From the O gauge layout:

@railroad-guy posted:

Millhouse River Turntable

These are two beautiful images - especially the interior. Those wooden floor planks look great.

Here are some photos form my layout. Older bower turntable and a Korber roundhouse.

Here's my roundhouse and turntable area...still under construction but I'm getting there!  

The roundhouse is kitbashed from a couple of two stall engine houses. The turntable is an Atlas. I will next do scenery and ground cover etc  

These are some amazing turntables.  WOW.  And the layouts too.  Stunning.

@GVDobler posted:

I saw this on another post and saved it. I thought it was a old round house. Maybe it was, but it certainly would make an interesting feature on a layout. The trucks park on the inside and the cars to be loaded hug the outside wall. 

Does anyone know if it was originally a roundhouse or did they kinda copy the idea?

 

Right, they are indeed freight houses.  3 of them were built in the New York city area back in the late 1800's. One each for the DLW (Harlem Transfer) , CRRNJ (Bronx Terminal),  and Lehigh Valley  (Bronx Terminal ).

For more information,  look at the Trainweb site for industrial and port railroads of New York city.  These terminals had no rail connection to other roads or even their own.  Interchange traffic was solely by car float operations. 

BTW, some of the terminals listed on the website would make for an interesting small switching layout, doable in 3 rail. Harlem Transfer measures out to about 6 & 1/2 feet by 13 feet with O-54 curves and turnouts.