Ashwick
Member
How many turntables are left on National Rail?
-
Our new ticketing site is now live! Using either this or the original site (both powered by TrainSplit) helps support the running of the forum with every ticket purchase! Find out more and ask any questions/give us feedback in this thread!
How many turntables remain in use on Network Rail infrastructure?
- Thread starter Ashwick
- Start date
Sponsor Post - registered members do not see these adverts; click here to register, or click here to log in
R
RailUK Forums
Metroman62
Member
There is one at Scarborough
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Is the one at Fort William still there? I don't think it sees much use as there isn't one at Mallaig
D6130
Established Member
Is there still one at Old Oak Common for turning HST power cars?
D1537
Established Member
There's one at York by the depot north of the station.
There is also one at Heaton Depot though I'm unsure if it's still in use.
There is also one at Heaton Depot though I'm unsure if it's still in use.
zwk500
Veteran Member
It sees a reasonable amount of use turning engines to get back to Glasgow.
In addition to York, Scarborough, and Fort William, I think there's one at Aberdeen and might still be one at St Blazey.
Visible on Google Maps are turntables in Heaton (Newcastle) and Neville Hill (Leeds) depots, I don't know if they're still there
Long gone by the looks of Google maps, the Crossrail Depot, HS2 and GWML site have swept it all away.
There is also a turntable in Carnforth Steamtown.
Engines can also turn on triangles, and if there's a station that's used regularly by Steam the chances are there's a triangle or turntable fairly nearby.
Morayshire
Member
- Joined
- 6 Feb 2019
- Messages
- 299
Aberdeen Ferryhill. Refurbished and restored to use fairly recently as well
swt_passenger
Veteran Member
- Joined
- 7 Apr 2010
- Messages
- 34,228
Surely all removed a few years ago, either for the Crossrail depot or the HS2 station site?
Sir Felix Pole
Established Member
St. Blazey in Cornwall - refurbished recently by MP Kernow. Questions still remain about the whole depot area however, and sadly it looks as if the last train from Par Harbour has run with the dryer about to be switched off.
brad465
Veteran Member
Technically not NR infrastructure, but Robertsbridge has just acquired a turntable that will be accessible from the mainline, so could become a rail tour turnback point in future. Does have an insane number of reversing points to get to though.
zwk500
Veteran Member
How long is the headshunt from NR? On google maps there looks to be stop blocks about 70m from the toe of the crossover. That length would be fine for a visiting loco and support coach, but you won't be getting any tours terminating at Robertsbridge with that length.
The siding does appear to continue for some distance behind the blocks though (full length appears to be c.230m), so maybe one day a full tour could do it.
Though technically this is on the heritage infra rather than NR </pedant>
WestCountry
Member
The headshunt was relaid and reopened to its full length last year, following some quite extensive work to stabilize the embankment. It's already been used by at least one railtour.
Only moves the problem along though - now the length of the bay platform is a constraint.
Last edited:
rower40
Member
- Joined
- 1 Jan 2008
- Messages
- 577
There is provision for turning vehicles using the West Ealing/Hanwell/Drayton Green triangle. This allowed the Old Oak Common turntable to be taken out of use in the mid 1990’s.
zwk500
Veteran Member
Oh interesting. Thanks for the update.
D6130
Established Member
Yes....but that's a long way to drive an HST power car in reverse!
19Gnasher69
Member
The Railway Heritage Register On-line has a turntable survey section.
It includes national rail and heritage railway turntables.
I assume that it’s exhaustive but can’t claim to be an expert.
It includes national rail and heritage railway turntables.
I assume that it’s exhaustive but can’t claim to be an expert.
Ashwick
Member
Is there still one at Hither Green?
19Gnasher69
Member
According to the RHRP website, the HG turntable is now at the Rother Valley Railway.
Ashwick
Member
Thanks everyone for all your information.
marshlinker
Member
Google Maps is now out of date and the Network Rail Siding was repaired last year. This is a link to the RVR Blog on the NR works which used the RVR yard for access:
https://rvrailway.blogspot.com/2025/10/network-rail-headshunt-ballasting-and.html
The limitation is now the distance between the "bay" blocks and the point to the RVR. A five car Hastings Unit ran through in April on a private special. It's featured in the recent Green Signals Video.
Last edited:
rower40
Member
- Joined
- 1 Jan 2008
- Messages
- 577
Agreed - it was for turning whole sets so that the first class was at the London end.Yes....but that's a long way to drive an HST power car in reverse!
The Old Oak turntable was donated to Swanage.
D1537
Established Member
Apart from the ones in works facilities, there is one at Felixstowe North terminal and one at the Daventry International Freight Terminal.
Both are used to move locomotives across tracks to save having to have a run round facility. I'm sure there are others as well.
It seems more common to run along the branch and turn on the Greenford triangle.
norbitonflyer
Established Member
Not much call for it now!Yes....but that's a long way to drive an HST power car in reverse!