80ft Turntable

80ft Turntable

The turntable at Whiteman Village Junction came from the old WAGR steam loco depot at Midland Junction. It was originally built as a 70’ diameter turntable, but was extended during World War 2 to 80’ diameter to accommodate the Australian Standard Garratt locomotives introduced at that time. This is why it is rather unusual in that the perimeter rail is some distance in from the ends as this was retained in this original location when 5’ was added to each end of the turntable.

The turntable girders, pivot, and perimeter rail, was acquired by the State Planning Commission in the early days of Whiteman Park, around 1984, along with a number of overhead gantry crane girders which became bridge girders for the railway. After many years in storage, a suitable site became available, and with assistance from Park Management, the railway undertook the installation.

Work on installation of the turntable commenced in 1993

The pit was excavated by “Construction Training” as part of their earthmoving machinery operator course.

	Placement of the girder onto the pivot	Girder in place

Brick retaining wall under construction	Completed project with access track installed	Ng 123 is turned on Enthusiast Day 1995

Simon Mead co-ordinated the rest of the installation on behalf of BBR. This work involved:-

	Forming and pouring of the concrete footing for the central pivot, comprising over 40 tons of reinforced concrete
	Construction of drainage sump and oil trap in the pit
	Restoration and painting of the girders
	Restoration of the centre support pillar and the bearings
	Transport of the girders to site and installation in the pit
	Construction of the brick pit wall and backfilling behind it
	Fabrication of transom girders to support the 610mm gauge track (the original 1067mm gauge track was supported directly above the main girders, however these are too far apart to directly support the narrower track)
	Installation of steel walkway decking salvaged from Claisebrook Railcar Depot (the turntable originally had a timber deck, but the steel deck was available at transport cost only, and would be much less maintenance, and accommodated the track support transoms easier.)
	Construction of approach track

Almost all this work was undertaken by the volunteers of the BBR, too numerous to mention. The only jobs undertaken commercially was the sandblasting of the girders, craneage and transport, and construction of the brick wall.

The turntable was completed in 1995 and was first officially used to turn NG 123 on Enthusiast Day

Jamie and Paul pose for a photo whilst turning Ng123 on 16/09/07

Then Jamie & Paul get into it with a "Heave" & finish the job

How easy it is, to turn 67T of locomotive if you get the table balanced right

Webmaster N. Blinco