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A Turning Star was/is a track arrangement for turning steam locomotives without the maintenance expense of using a turntable. The prototype(s) exist(ed) in Europe. The track work is complicated involving three turnouts --1 left, 1 right, 1 wye -- and three crossings. A Fremo modeler in Europe did model one (the wiring can get complicated because of the crossings involved).

 

I drew up some variations in the following configurations:

  • 36" Radius (O-72) using #4 turnouts
  • 48" Radius (O-96) using #6 turnouts
  • 60" Radius (O-120) using #8 turnouts

All use the same 11-degree wye on the right, plus a pair of 60-degree crossings and one 90-degree crossing. No tail tracks are in place behind the turnouts. The design platform is 64 square feet (8'x8')

 

Aerial of Prototype (in Italy as I recall)

Turning Star Example 2006

 

Schematic for Fremo Module Set

 

Turning Star Schematic

 

Fremo module set drawing

 

Turning Star Operational Model -- Fremo Module Set

 

Fremo module set

Turning Star Operational Model -- H.O. 1

Turning Star Operational Model H.O. 2

36" Radius (O-72) with #4 turnouts

Turning_Star--36-inch_Radius

 

48# Radius (o-96) with #6 turnouts

Turning_Star--48-inch_Radius

 

60" Radius (O-120) with #8 turnouts.

Turning_Star--60-inch_Radius

Attachments

Images (8)
  • Turning_Star--60-inch_Radius
  • Turning_Star--48-inch_Radius
  • Turning_Star--36-inch_Radius
  • Turning Star Operational Model -- Fremo Module Set
  • Turning Star Operational Model H.O. 2
  • Turning Star Operational Model -- H.O. 1
  • Turning Star Example 2006
  • Turning Star Schematic
Original Post

Replies sorted oldest to newest

Originally Posted by sinclair:

So, does this take up less room than a standard wye?  I've never seen one like this before.

I've seen two photos and I'm still scratching my head over it. It seems a more conventional wye would be an easier construct.

 

It's European. My take is that it was more economical than building and maintaining a turntable. I've modeled wyes and they seem to take up about the same amount of space, but that's for North American equipment. These look like they were designed for those short European locomotives at the end of the line. 

 

The small one above occupies a space about 6'x6' without tails; with the tails added it would be about 8'x10'. An O-72 conventional wye requires about the same area.

Last edited by AGHRMatt
Originally Posted by Ron045:

I can see the value if one or more of those 3 star legs can take you to additional destinations... but for merley turning the train around, I'm scratching my head asking wye?  Sorry, couldn't resist the pun.

 

Ron

 

I'm thinking the same thing.... You really can't turn anything around, or can you?

Last edited by Gregg

Matt's drawings are of the star itself.  If you look at his FreMo picture, you will see that the two star ends with the #4 or #6 switches continue on to the mainline.  So, if an eastbound steam engine backs into the star from the east, it takes the left leg turnout to the wye switch stub.  It then backs from the wye stub into the other switches stub.  That last switch is thrown and the engine is now heading back to the mainline westbound.  Turnaround successful.

 

Chuck

Originally Posted by PRR1950:

Matt's drawings are of the star itself.  If you look at his FreMo picture, you will see that the two star ends with the #4 or #6 switches continue on to the mainline.  So, if an eastbound steam engine backs into the star from the east, it takes the left leg turnout to the wye switch stub.  It then backs from the wye stub into the other switches stub.  That last switch is thrown and the engine is now heading back to the mainline westbound.  Turnaround successful.

 

Chuck

That's it exactly. I omitted the leads onto the main to conserve space. Basically the design appears to avoid the cost of building/maintaining a turntable but I don't see why they didn't just go with a wye (there may be other reasons). For North American steam (which is almost twice the size of a lot of European steam, the tails off the turnouts would be so long that you could build an entire engine facility in that space.

 

I posted it because of the unusual track arrangement, which might be fun (and expensive) to build, a challenge to wire, and would take up a lot of space, but it would definitely stimulate conversation. I can hear the "there's no prototype for this" comments and visualize the dropping jaws when the photos are presented.

The way I see it, this requires 2 more switches and 3 crossovers compared to a standard "Y" configuration and doesn't save any room. It also takes 4 moves vice 1 to complete the turnaround. I can't think of a reason to use such an expensive setup other than it seems designed to fit a very specific location around existing buildings, etc.

Post

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