I am in the process of designing an engine terminal for my N layout and am wondering about including a transfer table. The layout is a modern western setting, and I have a number of locomotives I do not use frequently, but wish to display on the layout. A turntable does not fit into the layout theme but think a transfer table might be the ticket. I recall seeing one advertised somewhere but it was pricy. It could be manually operated, as it will be more for asthetics and storage than a part of operations. The area for my engine terminal is a teardrop that is 52 inches long by 16 inches at the widest. Handlaying turnouts is an option. Any thoughts or information on transfer tables specifically or engine terminals themselves is appreciated. pictures of the area can be found: http://community.webshots.com/user/nodima1 thanks in advance kirk
There is transfer table listed on eBay now... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3154608431&category=19127&rd=1
Transfer tables are usually used to move cars/locomotives around between different shop bays. So you engines would be inside a shop building most of the time. I'm going to watch this auction and see how much this table goes for. I wonder what the reserve price is anyway?
The BNSF (ATSF) shop in Topeka KS had two transfer tables. They were used with the passenger car shops and one is still used for servicing/storing business cars. The web site below is aerial photo of shops. The building near the center, with a second story whose roof crown is perpendicular to main building's roof is the main car shop building. Just above it is the transfer table and the other car shop building is just above that. The building just below the main car shop building is where (if I remember right) the other transfer table used to be. http://terraserver-usa.com/image.aspx?t=1&s=10&x=1348&y=21631&z=15&w=1
The California State Railroad Museum in Sacramento recently completed restoration of an SP transfer table which they will use to move equipment around the facility. It's sort of like a horizontal "slide table" instead of a rotary turntable.
There's another transfer table on ebay. A company called Aros Electronics makes them. It looks like a nice table... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=3164676907
