Turntable Operations
Introduction
Shannondell Model Railroad (SMR) has a Locomotive Maintenance Facility equipped with a Roundhouse, Diesel House, Service Facilities and a Turntable. The trackage in this facility is illustrated and defined at the end of this section to facilitate movement in and out of the facility.
The turntable can be used to move locomotives or other cars from one track to another or to turn cars around (see also Turning a Locomotive Around).
The Turntable
The turntable, a Walthers Cornerstone 933-2859 130-foot model, can be controlled in any of three ways, as described below.
The turntable controller is situated on Control-Panel Drawer #9. The power on-off switch is to the left of the controller, as seen in the following image.
The turntable, a Walthers Cornerstone 933-2859 130-foot model, can be controlled in any of three ways, as described below.
The turntable controller is situated on Control-Panel Drawer #9. The power on-off switch is to the left of the controller, as seen in the following image.
A view of the SMR Control-Panel Drawer #9
The Controller
The controller consists of a small display and five black buttons, one each for clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW); one for Head and one for Tail and one for Track. Head and tail refer to the ends of the movable bridge on which a locomotive sits when being turned to a particular track and orientation, as seen in the following illustration.
The controller consists of a small display and five black buttons, one each for clockwise (CW) and counterclockwise (CCW); one for Head and one for Tail and one for Track. Head and tail refer to the ends of the movable bridge on which a locomotive sits when being turned to a particular track and orientation, as seen in the following illustration.
A view of the SMR turntable with emphasis on the bridge.
The HEAD end of the bridge is equipped with an operator booth; the TAIL end has no booth. In the above illustration, the tail is positioned at track 6 near the Roundhouse (not visible) and the head is positioned at track 11, one of the four outbound tracks available (5, 8, 11 and 12).
Turntable Operations: Option 1
In this Option, one first presses the Track button, then either CW or CCW (each press changes the track number, up or down, respectively) and finally Head or Tail. These choices depend on which track you want the bridge to be positioned to and on which end of the bridge should stop at this track. You can make turntable travel a minimum if you know where the bridge-end you select is in relation to where you want to stop. The following illustration should make this clear.
In this Option, one first presses the Track button, then either CW or CCW (each press changes the track number, up or down, respectively) and finally Head or Tail. These choices depend on which track you want the bridge to be positioned to and on which end of the bridge should stop at this track. You can make turntable travel a minimum if you know where the bridge-end you select is in relation to where you want to stop. The following illustration should make this clear.
In this illustration, you can see that the tracks surrounding and within the Roundhouse are numbered 3-10, while two of the outbound tracks are numbered 11 and 12. Note that the tail of the bridge is currently aligned with track 7. The head thus aligns with track 12.
The above illustration makes it obvious that the turntable bridge may be positioned at any of eight locations, numbered 3 through 10. At the same time, the bridge may align with track 8, 12, 11 or 5 on the outbound side. Tracks 8 and 5 are strictly parking tracks (spurs).
Suppose you want to bring the locomotive parked on track 5 (left of the Roundhouse) onto the bridge. First, you need to power track 5 by switching it on in Control-Panel Drawer #8. You need to move the bridge CCW two positions. When you press Track, 07 will appear in the display. Next, press CCW twice to move the bridge to track 05, which will be displayed. Finally, press either the Tail or Head button. If you press Tail, the bridge will move two positions. If you press Head, the bridge must move almost 180 degrees.
In summary, power the desired track, press Track, then press CW or CCW until the track number you want is displayed. Then press Head or Tail. That is all there is to Option 1.
Keep in mind that once you bring your locomotive onto the turntable bridge, you may need to adjust the position of the bridge to bring it into alignment with the track onto you wish the locomotive to exit the turntable.
Suppose you want to bring the locomotive parked on track 5 (left of the Roundhouse) onto the bridge. First, you need to power track 5 by switching it on in Control-Panel Drawer #8. You need to move the bridge CCW two positions. When you press Track, 07 will appear in the display. Next, press CCW twice to move the bridge to track 05, which will be displayed. Finally, press either the Tail or Head button. If you press Tail, the bridge will move two positions. If you press Head, the bridge must move almost 180 degrees.
In summary, power the desired track, press Track, then press CW or CCW until the track number you want is displayed. Then press Head or Tail. That is all there is to Option 1.
Keep in mind that once you bring your locomotive onto the turntable bridge, you may need to adjust the position of the bridge to bring it into alignment with the track onto you wish the locomotive to exit the turntable.
Turntable Operations: Option 2
SMRC has improved the turntable with an advanced control module and power relays so that the relays automatically power the track you select. The advanced control module allows SMRC to use JMRI to define “turnouts” (that is, all the possible operations of the turntable) and use a smart phone software app (WiThrottle or Engine Driver) to set the desired operation. The following illustration shows the control module and the eight power relays that govern the eight tracks in and near the Roundhouse.
SMRC has improved the turntable with an advanced control module and power relays so that the relays automatically power the track you select. The advanced control module allows SMRC to use JMRI to define “turnouts” (that is, all the possible operations of the turntable) and use a smart phone software app (WiThrottle or Engine Driver) to set the desired operation. The following illustration shows the control module and the eight power relays that govern the eight tracks in and near the Roundhouse.
The advanced control module is seen as the circuit board in the center, which is surrounded by the eight power relays (track numbers 3-10). These tracks can also be powered via toggle switches located in Control-Panel-Drawer #8. Notice that the red LED indicates power to track 9.
The following two illustrations show, using Engine Driver, (a) the list of “turnouts” for the eight tracks available on the Roundhouse side of the turntable and (b) the preference setting to always show Throw and Close for each list entry. Throw represents Head and Close represents Tail.
To use the example from Option 1, bring the turnout display to your smart phone screen. Then click Close for TT5. The turntable controller will power track 5 and move the bridge so that the Tail is aligned with track 5. Then you can drive the locomotive parked on track 5 onto the turntable bridge. That is all there is to Option 2.
Keep in mind that once you bring your locomotive onto the turntable bridge, you may need to adjust the position of the bridge to bring it into alignment with the track onto you wish the locomotive to exit the turntable.
To use the example from Option 1, bring the turnout display to your smart phone screen. Then click Close for TT5. The turntable controller will power track 5 and move the bridge so that the Tail is aligned with track 5. Then you can drive the locomotive parked on track 5 onto the turntable bridge. That is all there is to Option 2.
Keep in mind that once you bring your locomotive onto the turntable bridge, you may need to adjust the position of the bridge to bring it into alignment with the track onto you wish the locomotive to exit the turntable.
Engine Driver (Android) screen displays for (a, left) turntable locations TT3 to TT10 and (b, right) preference setting to always show the Throw and Close buttons rather than a toggle button.
If you use WiThrottle (Apple) the list displayed looks like that in the next illustration.
WiThrottle display showing the eight turntable positions (TT3-TT10) to which the bridge may be positioned. Each click of a TT# will display Close or Throw.
Turntable Operations: Option 3
Option 3 is available for the Engine Driver (Android) or WiThrottle (Apple) app. From the Engine Driver main menu, select Web. The following screen will be displayed.
Option 3 is available for the Engine Driver (Android) or WiThrottle (Apple) app. From the Engine Driver main menu, select Web. The following screen will be displayed.
For WiThrottle, select Settings and the following display can be selected:
On the line for your desired track (TT3 … TT10), click Head or Tail to cause the turntable bridge to move to your chosen track. The list entry will be highlighted until the movement is completed.
All three options described above can be used with the SMR Turntable.
All three options described above can be used with the SMR Turntable.
Trackage in the Locomotive Maintenance Area
Tracks in the Locomotive Maintenance Area can be seen in the following illustration with the main line outermost.
Illustration of trackage in the Locomotive Maintenance Area of the Shannondell Model Railroad (SMR).
The Low Grade Main Line runs around the periphery of the maintenance area. Note in this illustration that circles denote turnouts (Tnnn). Those with central black squares are motorized; the others are manual.
Tracks 1 and 2 run around the back of the maintenance buildings. They emerge at T522 and merge again at T527 (manual). The remnant merges into the Main Line or diverges to track 14 via T518.
Tracks 3-10 are near or in the Roundhouse and are accessible via the Turntable. Tracks 11 and 12 are tracks on the opposite side of the Turntable. Track 12 aligns with Track 7 via the Turntable. Track 11 aligns with Track 6 via the Turntable. There are two additional tracks adjacent to tracks 11 and 12, also numbered 5 and 8 (short spurs). Track 13 is a spur that merges with track 12 via T529 and continues through T530 to merge with track 15.
T528 (manual) splits the branch line from T518 into track 14 and track 15. Both these tracks cross the ash pits. Track 14 continues till it merges with track 11 via T533 (manual). Track 15 and 16 (a spur), merge into track 11 via T531 and T532. Track 11 merges into the main line at T507. Tracks 17 (spur) and 18 merge into track 11 via T526, T525 and T524. Alternatively, track 18 can merge with track 19 (both of which enter the Deisel House) to join track 20 via T526, T523 and T521. As already noted, track 15 merges into track 11 at T532. Track 20 is a branch off the main line at T516 and has a spur from T520.
Entry to the Locomotive Maintenance Area is normally through T515.
For access to other railroad operations, press a button below.