Remaining Turntables on network

[Philip Phlopp]

Forgive me for going slightly off topic but are there any surviving traversers?

Derby and York works do, and Newton Aycliffe has a pair of new ones, oh and Ilford has new one too.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Derby and York works do, and Newton Aycliffe has a pair of new ones, oh and Ilford has new one too.

I thought the works at York had closed years a go. Do Thrall?? still operate there?

 

[Philip Phlopp]

I thought the works at York had closed years a go. Do Thrall?? still operate there?

It is the base for RHTT equipment when not being used (unless that has changed very recently).

 

[dviner]

Derby and York works do, and Newton Aycliffe has a pair of new ones, oh and Ilford has new one too.

Wasn't there a new one put in at one of the ports in the last couple of years?

 

[45rpm]

I have a funny feeling that there is (or was) a traverser at Carne Point,Fowey.

 

[Philip Phlopp]

Wasn't there a new one put in at one of the ports in the last couple of years?

Mechan are the 'go to' people, and they're showing one at Felixstowe.

http://www.mechan.co.uk/case-study/4

 

[eastdyke]

Mechan are the 'go to' people, and they're showing one at Felixstowe.

http://www.mechan.co.uk/case-study/4

And a (very) short video of the same facility etc.:

http://www.mechan.co.uk/rail/traversers-rail-transfer-tables/

 

[eMeS]

Forgive me for going slightly off topic but are there any surviving traversers?

I remember one at Wolverton Works - would this count? (if it's still there...)

 

[EbbwJunction1]

Forgive me for going slightly off topic but are there any surviving traversers?

Does the one at the "Steam" Museum at Swindon still work?

It was certainly there a couple of years ago, but I don't know whether it's restoration had included bringing it back to working order.

 

[DarloRich]

It is the base for RHTT equipment when not being used (unless that has changed very recently).

and many other wondrous things
--- old post above --- --- new post below ---

I thought the works at York had closed years a go. Do Thrall?? still operate there?

Nope - NR now

 

[Philip Phlopp]

and many other wondrous things

It was (and presumably still is) the home for the various electrification MPVs when they're not out earning their keep.

 

[DarloRich]

It was (and presumably still is) the home for the various electrification MPVs when they're not out earning their keep.

yes - although keep earning seems to have gone up recently. There is all kinds of stuff in and out of there now

 

[Ploughman]

This small traverser was in the old Wagon works at York in 2009.
Probably only used for moving wheelsets or bogies.
Not known if still in place.

 

[Skutter]

This small traverser was in the old Wagon works at York in 2009.
Probably only used for moving wheelsets or bogies.
Not known if still in place.

Neat, I like the built-in capstan!

Which prompts me to ask - how many places still use capstans for shunting?

 

[route:oxford]

Not sure if this counts, but there is a little wagon turntable at Granary Square (round the back of Kings X).

 

[RichmondCommu]

Not sure if this counts, but there is a little wagon turntable at Granary Square (round the back of Kings X).

Hmm that is interesting Is it an original or has it just been placed there for show? There can't be many of them left.

 

[D6975]

There are (were?) 2 traversers at Crewe works, one outdoors and one inside the main building at the west end.

 

[AlterEgo]

Hmm that is interesting Is it an original or has it just been placed there for show? There can't be many of them left.

I believe it's an original, but now devoid of rails and appropriately "gentrified" to make it an ornamental piece.

 

[Harbornite]

I was also going to mention St Blazey and Aberdeen (which I only found out about recently). Old Oak common also retained a turntable but this has been removed.

 

[Skipness]

Peak Rail's Rowsley turntable is still accessible from the network, and used for turning rail tour locomotives.

 

[eMeS]

Peak Rail's Rowsley turntable is still accessible from the network, and used for turning rail tour locomotives.

Is that via Matlock? I can't remember any connection existing to the north of Rowsley, but it's many years since I was there.

 

[BestWestern]

Does the one at the "Steam" Museum at Swindon still work?

It was certainly there a couple of years ago, but I don't know whether it's restoration had included bringing it back to working order.

I was there very recently and it certainly looks like it should work. It had a wagon sat on it, though the museum was closed so that may just have been for ornamental effect. The end of the museum shed which adjoins it has what look like operational roller doors, so I presume they may well use the traverser for rearranging the exhibits?

 

[Taunton]

There were a surprising range of mechanisms for operating turntables, I wonder how many of these are left.

Simplest was a hand-push around. If it was well maintained and balanced, and the loco was equally well balanced on it, it was easier than you might think, though mainly confined to wagon turntables.

The GWR liked hand-powered tables with a winding crank, you could turn a tender loco in a couple of minutes by hand with these, a geared crank at one end, lots of winding by the crew (principally the fireman), and slow rotation of the table.

Next step up were vacuum-powered ones, run off the loco vacuum exhauster, coupled to the loco vacuum hose. they normally seemed to have large vacuum cylinders on the table as well. With the end of vacuum-braked locos presumably these are all gone from the main network. Were there ever any compressed air equivalents?

Electric motor turntables, I've never noticed one in Britain, although standard on the continent.

The turntable at Minehead was too small in diameter for the tender locos that eventually ran (infrequently) on the line, so an interesting challenge for those who don't know, how was the turning of such locos done (which it was).

 

[lincolnshire]

There were a surprising range of mechanisms for operating turntables, I wonder how many of these are left.

Simplest was a hand-push around. If it was well maintained and balanced, and the loco was equally well balanced on it, it was easier than you might think, though mainly confined to wagon turntables.

The GWR liked hand-powered tables with a winding crank, you could turn a tender loco in a couple of minutes by hand with these, a geared crank at one end, lots of winding by the crew (principally the fireman), and slow rotation of the table.

Next step up were vacuum-powered ones, run off the loco vacuum exhauster, coupled to the loco vacuum hose. they normally seemed to have large vacuum cylinders on the table as well. With the end of vacuum-braked locos presumably these are all gone from the main network. Were there ever any compressed air equivalents?

Electric motor turntables, I've never noticed one in Britain, although standard on the continent.

The turntable at Minehead was too small in diameter for the tender locos that eventually ran (infrequently) on the line, so an interesting challenge for those who don't know, how was the turning of such locos done (which it was).

Scarborough turntable has a small diesel engine driven hydraulic pump that drives a small hydraulic turning motor mounted on an additional wheel arrangement on one end of the turntable. A lever is depressed or raise to open the valve for direction after you have started the single cylinder diesel engine.

It also has a hand winding and chain drive arrangement after you had changed over the clutch arrangement.

Years ago Wrawby Junction had an 3 phase electric driven turntable it was located between the Lincoln line and Brigg line.

Hull Dairycoates last turntables was pushed by hand and so was Hull Botanic,s one as well.

 

[dggar]

Is that via Matlock? I can't remember any connection existing to the north of Rowsley, but it's many years since I was there.

Yes it is, and at present there isn't any connection existing to the north of Rowsley

 

[Firesprite]

Old Oak common also retained a turntable but this has been removed.

Thats now at Swanage waiting to be installed at the planned Furzebrook MPD.

 

[Harbornite]

Thats now at Swanage waiting to be installed at the planned Furzebrook MPD.

Good to hear!

 

[RichmondCommu]

Peak Rail's Rowsley turntable is still accessible from the network, and used for turning rail tour locomotives.

When you say network I presume that you don't mean Network Rail?

 

[SpacePhoenix]

Do many of the remaining turntables get used to turn steam locos used for rail tours?

 

[MELVYN]

St Blazey was used last Sunday to turn 46233 'Duchess Of Sutherland.