How many turntables still out there?

[martin2345uk]

Is this a daft question, as in there are too many to count? Or are there actually very few remaining? Working or not working, pristine or derelict, how many loco turntables still exist in the uk..?

 

[STEVIEBOY1]

Is this a daft question, as in there are too many to count? Or are there actually very few remaining? Working or not working, pristine or derelict, how many loco turntables still exist in the uk..?

I don't know how many exactly, but I think there are still working turntables, mainly used these days for special steam charters on the mainline at;

Yeovil Junction, St. Blazy in Cornwall, Scarborough.

I think possibly there may also be a turntable at Fort William, which would make sense as the popular Jacobite steam service run from there almost daily from about May - Oct.

There may be one at York as they get a lot of steam charters there, it may be in the adjacent National Railway Museum, there may also be one at Tysley, but I am not certain about that.

Many of the narrow gauge lines still do have turntables though and you can still seem them in parts of Europe too.

There are also turntables on the preserved railways at Minehead and Swanage, but they may be smaller than some of the others, I don't think they can turn the mainline locos that sometimes go to these stations/lines.

Other methods of turning the locos is either by using triangle type junctions or movements, or running as a circular tour.

Many of the narrow gauge lines still have turntables and they can still be seen in parts of Europe too. (I have seen then used in Eastern Switzerland on the RHb.)

 

[dysonsphere]

Theres one in a poor state dumped at Buckinghamshire Railway Centre on the north side I have a pic somewhere Ill see if I can find it.

[/URL][/IMG]

sorry its the only pic I took the rest is hidden in undergrowth etc

 

[Cherry_Picker]

there may also be one at Tysley, but I am not certain about that.

Can confirm there is one at Tyseley.

 

[Ash Bridge]

Is there not also a working one at Minehead?
(EDIT: just seen above )

 

[DaleCooper]

Nene Valley Railway at Wansford.

 

[swt_passenger]

Brand new one within the Hitachi site at Newton Aycliffe...

 

[theageofthetra]

Hythe on RHDR

 

[lincolnshire]

Definitely one still at Scarborough and a new to York one installed at York to replace the loco turning area triangle at York lost because of building the ROC.

Darlington had one that was till in position but out of use not far from the station, not sure if its still there.

Hull Botanic Gardens depot had a working one up until a few years ago, now the fuel tanks occupy this area, not sure what happened to it and it was maybe purchased by a preserved railway.

So thats 3 in use and one that was till there unto s few years ago.

 

[D6975]

There's one still in regular use at Neville Hill, used for turning HST powercars.

 

[dysonsphere]

Definitely one still at Scarborough and a new to York one installed at York to replace the loco turning area triangle at York lost because of building the ROC.

Darlington had one that was till in position but out of use not far from the station, not sure if its still there.

Hull Botanic Gardens depot had a working one up until a few years ago, now the fuel tanks occupy this area, not sure what happened to it and it was maybe purchased by a preserved railway.

So thats 3 in use and one that was till there unto s few years ago.

well Hull still has have a triangle so not suprising its no longer in use

 

[A-driver]

Not sure if it works or is in fact still there but my route guide book for ferme park depot (opposite Hornsey) shows a turntable. That guide is a few years old though.

 

[najaB]

Not mainline, but pretty sure that the Strathspey have one at Aviemore.

 

[essexjohn]

The turntable at Swanage is just 50 foot. It is not used to turn locos, just swivels to give access to the loco shed as the tracks do not align.

 

[BantamMenace]

One at Keighley on the KWVR but relatively easily accessed from the mainline if you needed to.

 

[martin2345uk]

Thanks for all the replies, really great, can see most of them on Google Earth! Not really sure why turntables fascinate me, must be from too much Thomas the Tank when I was a kid...!

 

[Ploughman]

VCT Turntable survey
http://www.tt.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ts/tsearch.asp
Stick in 4ft 8 1/2 for gauge and press submit.
Should get about 32 results.
Not sure how current the list is though.

 

[Ben.A.98]

Ferryhill Railway Heritage Trust have recently been granted permission by NR to restore the turntable at Ferryhill by Aberdeen.

http://www.ferryhillrailwayht.org.uk/projects.html

 

[40907]

The Hull Botanic Gardens table was lifted within the last year or two by the South Devon Railway for installation at Buckfastleigh.

The "new" York table was the one latterly at Ferme Park, as mentioned by an earlier poster. Before Ferme Park it was located at Cleethorpes.

Preserved lines with a turntable include the GCR at Quorn and Woodhouse, and the SVR at Kidderminster.

 

[martin2345uk]

That list feature is brilliant, so many to see...!

 

[RichmondCommu]

One at Keighley on the KWVR but relatively easily accessed from the mainline if you needed to.

That example was rescued from Garsdale in the 1980's.
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---
I'm pretty certain that Hither Green still has its turntable. I think Neville Hill also has a turntable although this is all from memory!

 

[jopsuk]

Not sure if it works or is in fact still there but my route guide book for ferme park depot (opposite Hornsey) shows a turntable. That guide is a few years old though.

Can't see one on the aerial views- this circular area of dirt looks like a likely location?

 

[A-driver]

Can't see one on the aerial views- this circular area of dirt looks like a likely location?

Possibly. Never been in there but it appears on the FCC road guide as a turntable, but I think it's been a while since any FCC driver signed it so it probably hasn't been updated.

 

[DarloRich]

Is this a daft question, as in there are too many to count? Or are there actually very few remaining? Working or not working, pristine or derelict, how many loco turntables still exist in the uk..?

There will be quite a few. are you interested in mainline or preserved railways? I think the GCR have a turntable at Quorn for instance

Darlington had one that was till in position but out of use not far from the station, not sure if its still there.

The pit is still there but i can’t recall if the turntable is still in it. In any event it is disconnected form the railway network. Was the one at Darlington kept to allow plant and small machinery to be turned?

Not sure if it works or is in fact still there but my route guide book for ferme park depot (opposite Hornsey) shows a turntable. That guide is a few years old though.

It has been moved to York

 

[Cliveblackpool]

St Blazey Turntable was declared 'unsafe' last year by DBS last year.
Has been used in the past for turning diesel locos (local clay traffic) to even out wheel wear, and wagons when new tipping frame installed. Essential for steam tours to Cornwall.
For many years BR and successors have wanted rid of the turntable to make more space for the industrial units in the old roundhouse.

http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Ca...-Blazey-rail/story-22882633-detail/story.html

 

[markindurham]

The 'table( a 50' one, I think) at Darlington is indeed still there. Looks very forlorn with no track going to it I'm surprised that it's not been removed for use elsewhere, tbh.

There's a 70' one at Heaton which is still in use, iirc.

 

[Cletus]

I happened to be looking near the yard at Selhurst recently and saw this in the next door park, being what I assumed to be an old turntable (or gas holder ).
http://goo.gl/maps/izLeU


There's also the Roundhouse in north London
http://www.roundhouse.org.uk/about-us/history-of-the-roundhouse/

 

[DarloRich]

St Blazey Turntable was declared 'unsafe' last year by DBS last year.
Has been used in the past for turning diesel locos (local clay traffic) to even out wheel wear, and wagons when new tipping frame installed. Essential for steam tours to Cornwall.
For many years BR and successors have wanted rid of the turntable to make more space for the industrial units in the old roundhouse.

http://www.cornishguardian.co.uk/Ca...-Blazey-rail/story-22882633-detail/story.html

irc it has now been fixed

 

[martin2345uk]

There will be quite a few. are you interested in mainline or preserved railways? I think the GCR have a turntable at Quorn for instance

Any and all some great ones been pointed out so far, I have a special fondness for the derelict but in-situ ones, can't put my finger on why... Just evocative of a bygone age maybe?

 

[BananaRepublic]

Brand new one within the Hitachi site at Newton Aycliffe...

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/3595449/

http://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/resources/images/3587184/

http://www.lloydsbritish.com/group/...-working-with-hitachi-rail-europe/?newsid=160