I was wondering how were the turntables locked so that the engines were not be derailed going on or off. It seems there are pictures of turntable but no pictures of how they worked. Were they just locked with the motor that turned it or was there another lock on the rails. Thanks for any help!

One of the devices I have seen is a pin that extends from the table to a receptacle (slot) mounted underneath the adjacent radii track.

Here's another idea on the Wisconsin Southern in their namesake state:

http://s184.photobucket.com/user/MFJ_al ... 3.jpg.html

Joshua

This is the lock on the Monongahela Connecting Railroad's turntable in Pittsburgh. Its just a steel plate that slides between the rails.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/33523379@ ... ed-public/

You can also lock the turntable by placing large bolts in the teeth of the large gear near the motor that propels the table. it is somewhat awkward because you have to climb down there each time but it does work.

At the Lehigh Valley's Oak Island engine house there were no locks on the turntable.
And occasionally we missed and derailed. No biggie....just back up and try again.

Keith

The turntable I am familiar with has an H-shaped lock plate. The sides of the "H" slide against the web of the rails; the wider rail heads keep the plate from being lifted out. With the plate engaged, half on the turntable and half on a lead track, the table is held rigid and "lined up". The middle "bar" of the locking plate, which connects the two sides, has a hole in it with an adjacent half-link welded to the "bar". A pin can be dropped down through this hole, between the turntable and the adjacent "landings". The pin also has a half-link welded to its top. This keeps the pin from dropping all the way through the locking plate. But it also allows the pin to be locked (in the lowered position) to the half-link in the plate. With the pin locked down that way, the locking plate cannot be slid either way, keeping folks from turning the table when untended.

To move the table, the padlock is opened, the pin pulled, and the plate slid all the way onto the table. Novices will occasionally slide the plate onto the lead track--away from the table. After they have done this and moved the table, the quickly discover they have left the locking plate behind. They only do this once, but the moment of self-discovery is fun for everyone else to observe.

At Spencer, the brake for the motor is what we have. A large lever that is best operated by leaning on it with your hip (you can use your arm but the hip is easier and less effort), and then secured in place with a metal bar. Sometimes we have to wiggle back and forth a little - bragging rights if you can hit it and get the rails lined up the first time, otherwise you might end up spending a bunch of time just trying to move it a "skoosh." Secure the brake, hit the main table power switch, and then watch the movement on and off the table.

The replica wooden, arm-strong turntables at Nevada State and Orange Empire both utilize an "H" shaped lock same-as or similar-to the one described above. The one in Carson City was built first and was based upon a Southern Pacific standard design. The Orange Empire one used castings from the same set of patterns and the same plans with some design modifications based upon the still-existing SP constructed turntable at Laws, California.

In Denmark we have a notched alignment rail down at the running balance rail. A lever at the deck engages a pin. There are pins at both ends of the table, but one is good enough to hold the table.

The table is armstrong.

The Billy Jones Wildcat in Los Gatos uses the H alignment spade between the rails. It is operated by a permanent lever arrangement.

Honestly I don't see any reason to anything other than the H spade. Anything else is just more complexity and maintenance.

FWIW, I always think first of the "H" spade between the rail webs as the lock.

There are as many ways to solve the problems as there are mechanical engineers (or maybe mechanics). All interesting.

Thanks.

Doug vV