Grosmont turntable

[markindurham]

I saw a photo of a Sentinel steam railcar entering the south end of Grosmont tunnel, and was interested to see the edge of a turntable well, right by the tunnel entrance on the east side of the line, just where the locomotive works is today. I believe that it was only a 42' 'table, but nevertheless I was surprised to see one there. Does anyone know more? When was it taken out of service? What services required it? It's intriguing.

Mark

[2392]

From what I've heard/gather it was used to turn any engines that were used to "bank or pilot" trains going south i.e. up the bank to Goathland as and when needed. When it was taken out of use I'm not sure the fifties.......There is another corresponding turntable at Pickering at the north end of the station and some distance from the shed which is joinery works these days. The Pickering 'table being of a similar size they'd be too small for a Pacific [a Pacific tank would be OK] they big enough [just] to take a V2 or more easily a B1. Of course these days with being an only 'table the Pickering one is used mainly to turn coaches in order to even out the tyre wear.....

[markindurham]

Interesting - many thanks. I didn't think it would have still been in use up until the 50s, mind you. I wonder if there are any photos of it in use? Also, how about before the workshops were built? That would have been the sort of thing that the historians might have made notes of, before building work commenced?

Mark

[60800]

R.E the Pickering table, it was used to turn a black 5 last year, photos showing just how tight a squeeze the loco was

[Bryan]

According to the 1913 line diagram the Grosmont table was on the East side of the line South of the tunnel at 24m 20.9ch served by a turnout at 24m 17.65ch.
Stated diameter on the diagram was 41ft 10"
However
According to the NERA publication on "Servicing the North Eastern Railway's Locomotives.
The Diameter is listed as 42ft. (I won't quibble over 2 inch)
Installed 1875 and Taken out in 1948.

From the same 2 sources.
Pickerings T/T was at approx 6m 62.27 ch on the West side. Illustrated on diagram but not recorded for distance.
From the book the diameter was 50ft, installed 1893 at a cost of £405 built by Cowans Sheldon.

[markindurham]

Thanks, chaps. I wonder how many other 'tables were in places like Grosmont? Pickering, of course, had a small shed, but iirc there was nothing at Grosmont?

Mark

[2392]

R.E the Pickering table, it was used to turn a black 5 last year, photos showing just how tight a squeeze the loco was

Sh! They're not proper LNER engine's least the Armstrong Whitworth batch built at Scotswood in Newcastle could classed as "adopted" machines, that were no doubt delivered to Carlisle via the Newcastle to Carlisle line. Anyway Black 5s' and B1s are about the same size and would be as you say a tight squeeze. Equally I was just guessing at when the Grosmont table went out of service/use.

[sawdust]

R.E the Pickering table, it was used to turn a black 5 last year, photos showing just how tight a squeeze the loco was

The table now at Pickering is 60ft diameter.

Sawdust.

[Trestrol]

R.E the Pickering table, it was used to turn a black 5 last year, photos showing just how tight a squeeze the loco was

The table now at Pickering is 60ft diameter.

Sawdust.

Which is the second turntable from the NRM York. York now has two working turntables again with the recent installation of the ex-Ferne park / Cleethorpes example to replace the turning triangle. If the NRM plans for a Roundhouse in Klondyke yard happen there will be Three working turntables in York! wonder when the last time that occured.

http://www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk ... re-in-York

[Bryan]

I thought Klondyke was between the Freight avoiders and the former carriage works?

[ten ten]

The Grosmont turntable perimeter ring was still visible until the shed construction started ca 1971.