Limerick Works turntable

[Killian Keane]

Im wondering if any good photos exist showing the detail of the table formerly at Limerick Works, Ive seen one photo from WLW days, and Ernie Shepherds book states it as being 45 feet dia, when was this table removed?

TIA

[J-Mo Arts]

Would this be an potential kit Killian? Hopefully someone knows something! 

[Killian Keane]

7 minutes ago, J-Mo Arts said:

Would this be an potential kit Killian? Hopefully someone knows something! 

I'd be printing the deck, the files wouldnt be going anywhere so Id be more than happy to make them for other people, but at 45 foot, I dont know would that be enough for more modern locos

[jhb171achill]

On 21/9/2023 at 10:18 PM, Killian Keane said:

I'd be printing the deck, the files wouldnt be going anywhere so Id be more than happy to make them for other people, but at 45 foot, I dont know would that be enough for more modern locos

Only seeing this now.

The only diesels which regularly needed turntables were, of course, the 121s. A 45 foot table is more than adequate for these, plus the majority of Irish steam locos. Many rural stations had turntables of standard 40 foot or 45 foot diameter. In my current meandering researches on Loughrea and Kenmare, I note that tables of this sort of dimension were the norm in Loughrea, Attymon, Headford Junction, Kenmare - and, for that matter, many other places like them.

If you plan to make one I will also be interested.

[Killian Keane]

Lets see where this comes on a scale of moderately unsuccessful to spectacularly unsuccessful shall we

[Mol_PMB]

Are you thinking of the turntable at Limerick loco shed, south of the Foynes branch, or was there another loco turntable in the original works area at one time?
 

Some plans in this thread:

For many years, Limerick also had a triangle which could have been used for turning locos. 
 

Regarding the turntable at the loco shed, I have seen photos of steam locos on it around 1970, whilst on railtour duties. The whole loco shed area was ripped up and converted to a bus depot in the mid 1970s. 
 

Mol

[Irishswissernie]

The Turntable at the works had gone by the time of the Ordnance Survey 1900 map. The one at the shed below with 171 on it in 1969 I would estimate at 45 to 50 feet diameter.

Edited December 31, 2024 by Irishswissernie

[Irishswissernie]

Found another one which shows a bit more of the Turntable pit construction.

 

Edited December 31, 2024 by Irishswissernie

[flange lubricator]

1 hour ago, Irishswissernie said:

The Turntable at the works had gone by the time of the Ordnance Survey 1900 map. The one at the shed below with 171 on it in 1969 I would estimate at 45 to 50 feet diameter.

According to the Appendix to the Working Timetable 1935 the turntable is 55' long.

[Signal Post]

At the risk of being accused of topic drift, I came across this video of Youghal turntable a while ago, it shows quite a lot of the construction details of the turntable which I consider quite useful to anyone modelling a similar Irish turntable. I know many on here would already have this knowledge but it was quite revealing to me. Once again apologies if I am going off topic here as it is not actually the Limerick turntable....

 

[Mol_PMB]

If we’re interpreting the question correctly then the turntable of interest was removed before 1900, and so it’s unlikely there will be many photos of it. So information on turntables of a similar era and size that survived longer may be the best source? 

[Killian Keane]

Hi Mol,

Yeah its the table that existed in front of the brick built office up to the late 1890s (this photo is 1897)

I agree on photos of other tables being the best option, the one of Bray in 1968 here I think wouldnt be far off

Edited December 31, 2024 by Killian Keane

[Mol_PMB]

Ah, I hadn’t realised there was one there - very interesting. That also helps to explain the layout of the pointwork into the works building in the 1900 map and even into the 1970s.

I wonder if the original Limerick turntable was re-used somewhere else? Were there any branch lines being built in the late 1890s that would have needed a small secondhand turntable? 

[Killian Keane]

In relation to the same project, that being a small photo diorama

[Mol_PMB]

Nice work! It’s a great location to model in any era, loads of character in the architecture and quite tightly enclosed by the buildings. 
I assume you have seen the photos of the works on the NLI archive website? Mostly 1960s and quite a few interior shots as well as the exterior. 
Mol