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What's Happening? 
Happy Halloween from the CD&M!! As the 'company colors' are black and orange, I guess you could say that everybody is celebrating our shortline! The turntable has been completed, and the three radial tracks have been re-lain into the engine barn and side storage line. We're working on creating an article over at 1Yard3Foot.net that will cover the construction of the turntable. With a 24-foot span, the table can easily accomodate the 701 and riding car and is also designed to support the weight of our 10 ton Porter air loco. As always, please click on photos for a larger picture! The picture above shows Charlie as he operates the turntable. As you can see, it is of the 'Armstrong' type! Marie prefers to call is 'the lazy susan'. Built on an old truck rear end, with a nice big bearing in the center and rollers at each end, the effort to spin the table with locomotive and car is very slight. In fact, stopping the inertia once it starts spinning and lining it up with the radial track may be the more difficult task. The picture below-left shows the 701 as she lines up for the first spin on the table. As always, it's a bit hair-raising when you first test your work. Below-right, you can see Charlie intently studying his handiwork as the 701 jumps the gap onto the turntable span.
And finally, the 701 has come to rest atop the new turntable. Not only will this help in turning the locomotive, but it had to be completed for the locomotive and car to be returned to the engine barn! Nine months of rainy weather in Oregon can be a bit harsh on the equipment. So Charlie worked at a feverish pace to finish it all in time. Please note: the turntable is not slanted - the picture was taken at a slight angle! Marie would never allow such shoddy work...
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