Durand yard, fall 1994

Steve B · Unread post by **Steve B** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 10:40 pm

The turntable, sand tower and diesel tank didn't last much longer after this.

Steve B · Unread post by **Steve B** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 10:46 pm

The diesel servicing area and snowplow.

Steve B · Unread post by **Steve B** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 10:48 pm

Sand tower closeup, diesel tank and stockyard area.

Steve B · Unread post by **Steve B** » Wed Dec 02, 2015 10:50 pm

Coal dock and scale test car.

wagnew0923 · Unread post by **wagnew0923** » Thu Dec 03, 2015 11:22 am

Why did turn tables and roundhouses fall out of favor in railroading. If they could handle big steam why could they not handle diesel. What roundhouses/turntables are still in use?

SousaKerry · Unread post by **SousaKerry** » Thu Dec 03, 2015 12:27 pm

Why did turn tables and roundhouses fall out of favor in railroading. If they could handle big steam why could they not handle diesel. What roundhouses/turntables are still in use?

Diesels require much less maintenance then steam. Consolidation of railroads and servicing areas brought doom to most far flung maintenece facilities. A diesel can be serviced quickly from a siding or such running track in a short period of time and can be stored outside easily. Steam on the other hand must be kept fired during freezing weather and servicing at the end of a run takes hours. Round houses and turntables are not efficient for Diesel maintenece, most large facilities now use transfer tables and square buildings as they are cheaper to build and have less wasted space.

trnwatcher · Unread post by **trnwatcher** » Thu Dec 03, 2015 1:00 pm

wagnew0923 wrote:Why did turn tables and roundhouses fall out of favor in railroading. If they could handle big steam why could they not handle diesel. What roundhouses/turntables are still in use?

Turntables for the most part where replaced when steam went away due to the fact there was not much need to turn a diesel locomotive. When a diesel must be turned wye tracks could be used. Roundhouses went away mostly due to the lower daily maintainence a diesel locomotive requires. They can be left running and being that diesel locomotives are "modular" in that you can just keep adding on more units a linear service area is much more efficient.

Steve B · Unread post by **Steve B** » Thu Dec 03, 2015 6:58 pm

I'm guessing that diesels weren't serviced in Durand after 1987 because Central Michigan used the Bay City facilities of sister road Detroit & Mackinac. The few times CMGN needed to turn an engine, it probably did so somewhere around there also, instead of maintaining the Durand turntable or paying GTW to use Durand wye.

wagnew0923 · Unread post by **wagnew0923** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 7:05 pm

So where are the non museum but still active turntables in Michigan. I know Saginaw has one and the Pontiac Yard has one but is never used.

SD80MAC · Unread post by **SD80MAC** » Mon Dec 07, 2015 7:37 pm

I think Saginaw is the only one that is still regularly used that isn't in a museum. SRI's in Owosso does get used by GLC once in a while if you want to count that. Grand Elk has one in Hugart yard in Grand Rapids but it hasn't moved in years.

Notch 8 · Unread post by **Notch 8** » Wed Dec 09, 2015 7:25 am

The NS in Fort Wayne uses their turntable on a regular basis.. CSX wye their locomotives in Garrett.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/digitalra ... 591526164/

CAT345C · Unread post by **CAT345C** » Thu Dec 10, 2015 5:56 pm

Gladstone still uses a turntable up in the UP.

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Durand yard, fall 1994

Durand yard, fall 1994

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