Turntable Moves

Ron Goldfeder · **Posted:** Sat Jan 03, 2004 12:39 pm

I've been asked to do a bit of research for MOT on turntables that have been moved from where they were originally used by a railroad to a museum or tourist operation and have been quite surprised at how many there are. My list starts with a Frisco table of unknown length moved from Paris, TX to the Texas State RR in 1976 and going up to date with 26 entries. This also includes recreated tables, such as at Steamtown and the several wooden "gallows" turntables like the one at the Nevada State RR Museum. I don't want to post such a long list, so if anyone knows of a moved or recreated turntable please contact me off line. I am interested in where it was first, what line owned it, how long it is, where it went, when this move took place, and if it is now in use or being held for future use. Photos or web sites where photos can be found would be great. If it isn't standard guage note that as well, and I expect some that were standard are now being used for narrow gauge, or mixed, as at the Coloroado RR Museum and CSRM at Sacramento. Existing tables still in use by a railroad or museum are outside of this search.

rdgoldfeder@aol.com

Ted Miles · **Posted:** Sat Jan 03, 2004 10:43 pm

Here a couple that I can think of: Long Island Railroad Museum just moved one from near Buffalo, NY. See their newsletter posted on their web site for details.

The colorado Railroad Museum has mpved one a few years ago, not set up I thing for standard and narrow gauge track.

Ted Miles

ted_miles@nps.gov

Mike Nix · **Posted:** Sun Jan 04, 2004 10:13 pm

Ron,
My e-mails to you keep getting bounced so I'll post.

Prairie Village at Madison South Dakota and the
Rollog Minnesota Steam show I believe.

http://www.prairievillage.org/Railroad.html

http://www.rollag.com/

http://www.rollag.com/pics/index23.htm
pictures of turntable

M.Nix

2rivers@upstel.net

Paul D · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2004 10:48 am

1976 85 foot CB&Q turntable moved from Wymore Nebraska and installed at Stuhr Museum in Grand Island. Regauged from standard to 36", steel gallows removed for transport and replaced with a wooden gallows to "backdate" looks.
Used 1976-1990 Currently in operable

2001 115 foot GN moved from Minneapolis junction to Jackson street Roundhouse in ST. Paul MN.
Currently operable

1992 125 foot NP move from Dilworth ND to jackson street Roundhouse. Scrapped 1998.

pfdx@aol.com

Boyd Owens · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2004 1:33 pm

I don't have all the details on them that Ron is looking for (maybe someone else can fill in the missing info), but I know of three turntables that were moved:
One from an unknown location to Mid-Continent Railway Museum that was later scrapped due to being too short.
One from Madison, WI (Milwaukee Road, I think) to Mid-Continent Railway Museum that is stored pending future roundhouse construction.
And one from Marquette, IA (Milwaukee Road) to Prairie Du Chien, WI for use by planned tourist operation that never came to be. Currently rusting away, may be scrapped soon.

Boyd

bowens@rypn.org

Craig H. Lacey · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2004 4:28 pm

Ron,

My e-mails got bounced as well. The Union Pacific's 65' Boise, ID turntable was moved to Heber City, UT in about 1986. The Southern Pacific's 100' Carlin, NV turntable was moved to Heber City, UT in about 1993. Both tables are awaiting future installation.

clacey@hebervalleyrr.org

K.R. Bell · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2004 5:10 pm

Railroad Museum of PA moved a 100' Reading Company turntable via three flatcars from Bridgeport, Pa., to Strasburg in 1970. It is currently operable and housed in a concrete pit in the Museum Yard; it was fully renovated in 2000.

> Ron,

> My e-mails got bounced as well. The Union
> Pacific's 65' Boise, ID turntable was moved
> to Heber City, UT in about 1986. The
> Southern Pacific's 100' Carlin, NV turntable
> was moved to Heber City, UT in about 1993.
> Both tables are awaiting future
> installation.

Phil Mulligan · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2004 6:06 pm

I should point out that Reading Company had moved that particular turntable from West Cressona to Bridgeport, where it was installed in 1948. They needed a 100' table there to turn the T-1's which were then being assigned to Abrams-Port Reading coal trains.

Electric City Trolley Museum Association

Michael Seitz · **Posted:** Mon Jan 05, 2004 11:03 pm

The Yakima Valley Rail and Steam Museum moved the former 115' NP table from Yakima to Toppenish Washington, where it is currently stored, pending development of a roundhouse area.

Michael Seitz
Missoula MT

YVR&ST Turntable Move
mikefrommontana@juno.com

Don Fisher · **Posted:** Tue Jan 06, 2004 10:01 am

Ron,

Please e-mail me with your current/valid e-mail address and I'd be happy to send you some picures and information regarding our 460+ mile move of an 86' thru truss turntable '01 - '02.

de Don, n2qhvRMLI

http://www.rmli.org
n2qhv@arrl.net