Goods van turntables

[Roy H]

Hi,
Can anyone assist please.
I want to add 2 Goods van turntables into a layout I'm planning but have so far drawn a blank on these small turntables in N, I have a Peco SL-427 but it is too small and unfortunately not fit for the purpose.
Is there an alternative that is available?

Many thanks for any assistance or advice,
Roy

[PLD]

The SL-427 is intended primarily for 009 narrow gauge, but should be compatible with code 80 N gauge track.

I have seen them successfully used on N gauge layout though, and they are big enough to hold a 9/10 ft wheelbase wagon which is all that would in reality have used them. Remember, as per the prototype, only the wheels needs to fit, not the whole buffer-to-buffer length of the wagon and there would be an over-hang each end when a wagon was sat on it.

Other than that, why do you consider them "not fit for purpose"?

[Jollybob]

The Peco SL-427 is okay if you are just using it to show and not use. A 10' wagon is a tiny bit too big, it just catches the flanges on the wheels. A missed opportunity by Peco in my opinion.
Someone at some point was making 3d designed wagon turntables of various lengths but I couldn't say if they are still around.
Faller made a wagon turntable, it is quite large for British standards. It comes with a servo I believe, so not cheap either.

Rob.

[Roy H]

Thanks for your comments, with reference to the Peco Wagon Turntable I guess what I should have said 'not fit for my purpose' as I'm sure they are very useful in many circumstances just not mine.

As in many cases my reality is/will be somewhat different from the real reality, as with the advert; I want it to do things "other can't do" or something like that.

Yer, I seem to remember seeing something somewhere sometime about an alternative wagon turntable but can't for the life me remember what, where or who

I'll see if the Faller one mentioned might do the job - I've not looked at that.

Thanks again.
Roy

[Newportnobby]

Could you scratch build something out of, say, a Pringles top?*

*other snacks chomps are available 

[Bealman]

Actually, scratch building was something that came to my mind.

[Steven B]

Thanks for your comments, with reference to the Peco Wagon Turntable I guess what I should have said 'not fit for my purpose' as I'm sure they are very useful in many circumstances just not mine.

What is it that you're trying ti achieve? We'll be able to give better suggestions if we know more.

What size? Static or functional? Do you want the be able to drive locos over it? If you're coping a prototype location, what was used there?

[Kris]

Scratch building one from a milk bottle top would give you something about the correct size going a bit smaller might be better however so possibly even a coke bottle top.

[Lagrange1]

Assuming you want a flat deck table rather than a well type how about about using the base of a CD case and then cut down a CD to give you the table size you're after?

Has been done in the past but cannot remember where I read about it.

[chrism]

I, too, considered the Peco ones for a couple I needed for Broughton but felt that the were too small.
Since all I needed was for them to look about right and to allow wagons to pass across in one route only, I cobbled some up from plasticard and some lengths of rail.



Once the ballast and ground works around them was done they look pretty fair and wagons do run across them on the desired routes.

Do you want the be able to drive locos over it? If you're coping a prototype location, what was used there?

Would locos have been allowed to run over them?

I've assumed not in the case of Broughton, so mine are within the isolated ends of the sidings - wagons from beyond the turntables have to be recovered using a few more wagons to reach them.

[emjaybee]

Could you scratch build something out of, say, a Pringles top?*

*other snacks chomps are available 

Yes, but he doesn't need hundreds, 'cos, y'know once you pop...

[martyn]

Just a thought-how do you propose to shunt wagons on and off the table when it is set at 90 degrees or whatever to the running line?

I note Swaffham has two joined to each other, and one of them has some stub sidings off it, though I suspect these are just for safety in case a wagon over-runs the table. The stubs can be shunted directly from the yard running lines, but the line linking the two might pose some problems for 'real train' movements in model form.

Martyn

[Newportnobby]

Scratch building one from a milk bottle top would give you something about the correct size going a bit smaller might be better however so possibly even a coke bottle top.

Wheel rim to wheel rim of an average 4 wheel wagon is 30mm, so the suggestions above seem on the small size to me

[ntpntpntp]

There are other options for wagon turntables.  Faller do a nice one with a servo.  222114

https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/41438/222114-Faller-Small-Wagon-Turntable-with-Motor-Kit


Modelbahn Union also do a smaller size turntable  (see DM Toys web site).

[PLD]

This image shows a very typical British standard gauge example.

https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/lnwr/curzonstreet/lnwrcs2109.jpg
https://www.warwickshirerailways.com/lms/lnwrcs2109.htm

The van on the table is a standard LMS 10ft wheelbase and as can be seen just fits.
Locos were usually not permitted to cross the turntable. Moving the wagons on and off the table and also turning them was usually by rope/chain and capstans as demonstrated. In larger yards there may be some steam powered capstans to provide the power, otherwise it may be the rope attached to a loco on another track, or in the most basic cases horse-power (later mechanical horse/tractor)