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How much space do you need for a turntable and roundhouse? I would use a 34" turntable which is roughly 3 feet. How far from the roundhouse would the turntable need to be and how much space would you need for the roundhouse? Thanks.

Last edited by TrainHead
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Tough questions to answer.  The actual depth of your roundhouse (a BIG size factor) and the number of stalls you decide to use (another BIG size factor) will affect your overall roundhouse dimensions.  Both of those factors are affected by the size of equipment you run (4-4-0s, 4-8-2s, 4-6-6-4s, etc.) and how much equipment (3 engines, 9 engines, etc.) to be stored.  Finally, the distance between roundhouse and turntable is determined by the angle between each roundhouse door and/or the complexity of track you desire between turntable and roundhouse (crossing trackage, straight track, curved track, etc.).  I suggest you download SCARM, a free track planning program, set your available space, and then play with designs and structures to see what fits.

Chuck

Last edited by PRR1950
Gregg posted:

I really like the modular Turntable. Eventually something's going to derail and with this set up you can reach without too much trouble.   Very important for older train crews. nice job.

Fort Pitt Hi-Railers modular layout.  Pittsburgh, PA.  The bike is a Trek 7500, it's been to Washington DC, via the Great Allegheny Passage bike trail.  

Best wishes

 Mike CT   

Last edited by Mike CT


I am planning to uses a 28 in TT with 5 stalls. One of the out side stalls will be extended to carry BB4014. I used the template above to measure and am building a series templates to get the feel of the space requirements. I am also trying to fit in a 2 stall Diesel Shed plus a track that circles the round house. I am planning, if, I got all the templates correct it will be at least a 8 by 8 area. I drew up today a 4*4 table for just the TT this will allow that the be a fixed point and I will go from that point. 

Earlier threads about TT were on the forum in the April ~ June time frame with lots of great information. Much like above.

Last edited by PSU1980

"I am planning to uses a 28 in TT with 5 stalls"   Smaller diameter TT's  can be made work with the Korber house, note that the fan pattern of the spur rails quickly goes off center of the house bay as the number increases from center.

Left, and far right rails  are off center.  the more stalls the more difficult to make the rails fit the house with a smaller TT.    Diamond Scale.  26 1/2" TT.   The Korber 304 house was designed for a 30" to 34" TT.  There is note of the 7.5 degree bay angle.   

Last edited by Mike CT
TrainHead posted:

How much space do you need for a turntable and roundhouse? I would use a 34" turntable which is roughly 3 feet. How far from the roundhouse would the turntable need to be and how much space would you need for the roundhouse? Thanks.

TrainHead

If you measure 61" from the center of any turntable to the back of the Korber roundhouse  the track's line up , some roundhouse's are wider that would make the measure different .

Guy

Sub-base

The table top, visible brown, lower right corner, is 1/2 MDO, Medium Density Overlay, board. 

Then a layer of 7/32" (1/4") luan board that matches well with Midwest cork road bed.

The dark layer is 1/4 Masonite board that matches well with the Atlas track railroad ties.

And a finish layer to complete the floor of 7/32" (1/4") luan board, spackled and painted to simulate concrete.  total deck to floor detail 1  3/16".

The detail was also used as a mounting frame for the Korber wall panels.   Both houses were built with the same floor detail.   There is 2" X 4" framing under both the modular house and my layout house.

Last edited by Mike CT

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