Turntables and Roundhouses?

Ross Custom Switches will be in the Orange Hall. They build beautiful turntables as well.

The Atlas turntable is likely the least expensive you will find. They have a roundhouse kit that goes with it.

Frank I have a Atlas Roundhouse all ready together I will be in the Blue Hall .

Guy

Guy, by any chance can you post a picture of it on here?

The two best turntable assemblies on the market, in my opinion are:Ross, and Milhouse River Studios. My roundhouse is an older Korber kit (6 stalls), but their current kits have been vastly improved.

Frank you have a number of roundhouse choices including Altoona, Crescent Locomotive Works, Korber, Harry Hieke, and Dennis Brennan. All are in the gold hall. We went with the Dennis Brennan.

Concur with the above on turntables... Millhouse and Ross. Both will be there.

Good luck.

I would go for the millhouse table. They are expensive, but worth it in my opinion. There index system work on TMCC as well.

Index Kit- makes life sooooo much easier. We operated the Millhouse TT for 3+ years trying to line it up by eye. We shoulda put the index kit in from the get go. Its well worth the money when it comes to operating the TT.

Takes A LOT of space. The reason many people don't have them. They eat up every inch you "think" you have and then some. 

Don't scimp out. Get the good stuff, take your time installing it. If it doesn't work right you won't use it so its all a waste of money. Done correctly, it will be the show piece of the entire layout.

Altoona Mode Works makes a great Roundhouse. Got mine last York with the extended Bay for the BB.

Wish I had purchased the Millhouse River 30 / 32 inch TT not the 28 Like Alan suggested -  Bigger engines which I did not have require it. Also if you buy the MRTT - but the $25.00 TMCC / Legacy kit.

Also, like Doug suggested - I did not purchase - maybe a indexing kit if you installing after the fact. I am building my layout and am planning to installing the TT and the RH first therefore I can control the approach tracks.

Kevin 

It takes a lot of real estate.  I built and installed a Millhouse TT and the Atlas roundhouse for a customer.  That Atlas roundhouse is one huge heap of plastic.  It has to be the biggest model I ever made.  Both are fun to build.  They take up quite a bit of space, so plan ahead.

I have a Millhouse table and an Altoona Model Works roundhouse.  I'm very happy with my choices.

I received excellent service from Al Z. at Millhouse as well as Bob at Altoona.

PSU1980 posted:

maybe a indexing kit if you installing after the fact. I am building my layout and am planning to installing the TT and the RH first therefore I can control the approach tracks.

Kevin 

Huh? I'm confused by that statement.

We used the Millhouse River 34" TT and Dennis Brennan's RH with every stall extended to fit a Big Boy. There are 18 tracks around the pit. It takes up just over 7' x 7' of space with a reverse loop that runs behind the RH. That track is a close clearance but will accommodate a 21" passenger car and Big Boys.

Do not leave home without the indexing kit.  I drooled for years over a turntable but denied myself one.  My remaining layout is 50ish era.  I have modest size diesels and smaller steam.  I barely had room to expand enough to fit in a turntable of 28 inches.  Nice size, actually the gps and one 40 foot car fit on it, one gp that is.  I have no roundhouse and I have seen some branch lines where the end of the line did not have a roundhouse, just a turntable and a short one at that, so I am thinking that is what I have room for and pretend that mine is the end of a branch line turntable,  I do have room for 3 open storage tracks.  Plenty of opportunity for working on scenery too. Well I guess I have a few newer diesels too, but how can you resist a nice SP?

TTs are one thing; RHs, now  that is where  the rub is.  When you place the two of them together you really need a good sized foot print.   Typically a keystone shape 3' wide at the small end 5' wide at the large end and 7' to 9' long for 3 to 5 stalls.  Nice if all you have is one.

Having several dead end branch lines I needed a way to turn a steam engine at each end.  I have a distinct need for several TTs but I just could not go for five round houses.  Just way too much real estate.  I am only using a couple of single and double parallel engine houses.  My story is that the mainline engines are serviced off stage.  I only need to routinely turn  for the round trips.  I could do a runaround and haul back to the main yard in reverse but that is very unappealing to me.

Most of my TTs are 26" to 28"   One off stage TT is larger for articulated visitors.  Where I use an engine house I place it parallel to the approach track which reduces the foot print.

Make up your own story to provide the easiest way to enjoy and afford your layout.  My Millhouse TTs are very nice but some of my earlier TTs  still turn an engine 180 degrees.

You can find serviceable TTs at many train shows for pocket change. Replace broken bridge ties, touch up appearance items take a bite of humble pie and enjoy!

 No RHs for my layout.

This is a Korber 304 house with one additional stall, and a Diamond Scale 27" Turntable.  Mouse over the image, click on the triangle to access a video.

You can get some relatively large steam engines on this turntable.

Weaver Pennsy M1a/b, long haul tender,  on the Diamond Scale turntable.

This is another (Modular) TT, scratch built using a lot of Diamond Scale and Bowser parts.  The foot print is about 13' X 4'/6'.  Fort Pitt Highrailers.  IMO, Easily a layout by itself.     House is  a Korber 304 with one additional stall.  The 304 works best with a 30" or larger Turntable, about 12", house door front, to the edge of the turntable.

Thank you to all of you for your help and advice!!!  Cant Wait for Friday!!!  I will let you all know what I end up getting!!

Frank,

It was great meeting you at York. I'm sure you are deep into your turntable installation by now. Enjoy it and if you have any questions please give me a call and be sure to post photos of your install. Thank you!

Thanks Alan!!

It was great meeting you and talking to you.  I really appreciate your time and knowledge.  I have a lot of planning to do to make sure I do everything right and make sure I leave the correct space for the roundhouse!  

Ill keep you posted as I move along!!  Thanks again!! 

Frank

Heres a photo of my Millhouse River Turntable (28") with Korber Roundhouse I installed 2 years ago.  I installed this RH and TT on a 6'x4'  area on my layout which I later expanded. Pic illustrates a way you can install this combo, if you have limited space.

Later expanded to this....

-Pete

Just to add to the data base here, attached are two pix of our ON30 turntable area.  Takes a TON of space.  The pix showing the garden tracks emphasizes how long the tracks are from the edge of tt to the back of house.  Russ

Frank,

Glad to hear you got a Milhouse Turntable. Keep us posted.

Chris

From my experience the mill house is a great product.  I also think you will find the Korber roundhouse is a great piece.

Crescent locomotive works a OGR sponsor builds a great round house.  You can view one on OGR latest DVD filmed at Dave_C layout.

As I understand the above postings, a roundhouse and turntable eat acreage. No surprise. I think my shortline will get by as described above, with a reversing loop and wye, and one or two stall engine houses, one at each end of the line. Wyes and loops, and their switches, take space, too, so careful planning is required.

I have the Atlas roundhouse and turntable.  The turntable is troublesome at times.

Thanks again to all for the posts, advice, and pictures!!!  I love seeing all the pictures so it gives me good ideas.  I ended up buying the 34" Milhouse TT Weathered and having the UP Arch!!!  I also bought a 5 stall Roundhouse from Crescent Locomotive works.  That is on order and will get here after the new year.  For now I have to map everything out and make sure it lays down correctly and when I get some progress I will check back in with some pictures!!!

Frank

excellent choices you will be happy. post pictures once you get started

Here is my Atlas turntable, modified and added detail. Use a 12v window motor to power from underneath!

Here's a prototype arrangement that saved space in a very narrow ROW. Note that the roundhouse is served by some spur sidings, while the turntable is independent of the tracks to the roundhouse.