Walthers 130' turntable space requirement

[keeper]

All of the above lets the pendulum swing more and more to the roundhouse/turntable solution.

One advantage of a wye, which would be long enough, is that you could turn a whole passenger train. But I don't have the space for such a wye.

I think I will start planning a turntable set up. Bob's idea of a partly open Roundhouse is quite tempting.

[nkalanaga]

Pasco, WA, had a large roundhouse and the wye, but that was a special case.  The roundhouse/turntable were inside the wye, which was actually the three mainlines serving the town:

North was the NP/SP&S to the new (1950s) yard, and NP to Spokane.
South was to the Columbia River Bridge, and NP to Tacoma/SP&S to Portland.
East was the SP&S to Spokane, and NP branch Walla Walla.

The roundhouse was gradually torn down, and all that remains are a few tracks and some foundations.
The SP&S to Spokane was abandoned decades ago, although the Walla Walla branch is still in use.
But the area in the wye is still a busy diesel service facility.

[mmagliaro]

All of the above lets the pendulum swing more and more to the roundhouse/turntable solution.

One advantage of a wye, which would be long enough, is that you could turn a whole passenger train. But I don't have the space for such a wye.

I think I will start planning a turntable set up. Bob's idea of a partly open Roundhouse is quite tempting.

I think Bob's idea is great, also.  It depends on what "look" you are after.  If you want that dramatic look of a roundhouse, but don't really have the room, the cut-away idea is a great way to do it.    I did a similar thing on another layout, except instead of having it cut off at the front, I did it against the backdrop, so the full stalls were toward the viewer, the stalls behind those got progressively shorter, and last stall was chopped so that stall continued into the backdrop.  That did require careful paint and shrubbery blending to at least create the illusion that the whole roundhouse was there.  I think Bob's idea is better and easier to implement.

[peteski]

Pasco, WA, had a large roundhouse and the wye, but that was a special case.  The roundhouse/turntable were inside the wye, which was actually the three mainlines serving the town:

Sure, but roundhouses and turntables seem to be inseparable pair. That is true even in this scenario.

[nkalanaga]

Pasco had both the roundhouse and turntable, with both, and outdoor servicing, inside the wye.  They had everything, but it took a lot of space.

But you're right, a roundhouse without a turntable is very rare.  The very design almost requires a turntable.  Turntables without a roundhouse, especially at the end of a branch, weren't common, but there were more than many people realize.

[Sumner]

A semi-roundhouse without a turntable...



This stub switch has always intrigued me and spent ...



... more time on it than...



.... I should have a couple years ago.  Started designing it a couple years ago trying to come up with a template I could use to build from.  Also designed and printed the parts to move the rail into the 5 positions, hopefully reliably with a stepper motor but never put the parts together or started laying track.  Wouldn't really have a place for it on the layout but if I live long enough I might come back to it.

Would give one the sense of a roundhouse shaped building but wouldn't handle turning and engine around.

Sumner

[nkalanaga]

I want to see the wiring for that turnout.

[Sumner]

I want to see the wiring for that turnout.

It would be quite complex.  If I ever tackle it I'd probably divide all those individual frog and track segments into sections with a polarity wire to each.  Then operate the whole switch via an Arduino.  It would drive the stepper motor to select the track and move the rails to that track.  It would also only power the needed isolated track sections at that point with the proper polarity.  An interesting project.  Will probably be on the back burner for some time unless I want a break from the layout. 

That is the case with a rotary plow project that I've ordered parts for now that should arrive in 2-3 weeks.  Then layout break for a few days  .

Sumner