Locos Too Big To Turn--Try A Portable Reverse Loop (346)

[@mikedurhan9941]

Until this very moment, I thought the greatest achievement of the Brits was the Rolls-Royce Merlin aircraft engine and the Spitfire. This is near-about as good, although I'm not sure how it could win a war. HA-HA! The only thing I see is this: They need to include a couple of dresser drawer knobs with considerable flare (for grip) and which spin freely. Mounted on top of the arches at each end they would assist in turning around the entire carriage. Thank you for this video, Larry. And thanks to DCC Concepts - and to the RRM powered Spitfire aircraft.

[@HumancityJunction]

When these first came out, I thought of them as cassettes, but never thought to use them as a portable turntable. That is a creative use of this device.

[@EdKuligowski]

Bought the longest one for multi-engine MUs . Perfect for a 3 unit FA/FB/FA config, as well as, GP7 2 unit MU. No more manhandling. Thanks for the video!

[@derekalexander4030]

What a great product for storage, packing, and transporting. Your idea for a portable turntable or using it to change tracks in a yard is a great alternate use and best of all you don’t have to touch the locomotive which is very important with all of the newer highly detailed and expensive locomotives or heavily weathered locomotives and rolling stock.

[@Mark_W_L]

Larry, All the original PRR T1s were scrapped, but the T1 Trust is attempting to build a new one, aiming to have it complete by 2030. Their website says it is now 41.3% complete.

[@martinsims1273]

Here in Britain, there are several new steam loco's being built to replace types which were completely wiped out; a GWR "Grange", an LMSR "Patriot", an LNER "P2", and a Great Central Edwardian era 4-4-0 amongst others. Hope your project goes well. God bless.

[@EdKuligowski]

Ordered the longest so so I can flip MUs as one. Can't wait to try it out. Thanks for the tip!

[@michaelsmodelrailroading7665]

What an ingenious little device - simplicity itself! There is nothing more frustrating than trying to re-rail a large steam locomotive, especially those with multi-axle tenders. The MPD almost totally eliminates the necessity of physically handling one's locomotives directly in routine circumstances. And, as you point out, it's also useful for multi-unit diesel consists. I would nominate the MPD as the model railroading product of the year. Thanks for bringing it to our attention.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Folks, Iron Planet Hobbies rapidly sold out of the MPDs, so you might check eBay or add your name to their wishlist so they know how many they need to order. They may be able to get some quickly from the importer in Nebraska or from DCCconcepts in the UK. I just checked and Iron Planet Hobbies now has a small number of these back on stock.

[@johnbanicki7232]

Great way to turn a loco without having to touch it. Thanks for sharing.

[@rln970]

Thank you for featuring the MPD. I recently purchased a DDA40X, and being large, heavy, and with 16 wheels, might benefit from the MPD. I do not have a layout and the loco will only be run on our club layout. Anything to help handling will help. I will let you know how it works out.

[@elsdp-4560]

Thank you for sharing. Great idea, would also work great at transferring locos from the bench test track to the layout. Just may have to pick one of these up just for that reason.👍

[@Yoppeh7J1944]

My big Boys went on great, the UP FEFs almost rub there smoke stacks on the ends.. The BLI, MTH and Rivarossi Cab Forwards make it until the cab roof vent and after placing the locomotives inside I found the the steam domes are to high also. The dremel tool trimming will fix the clearance problems. They are a great tool for me as my 9 foot programing , testing and speed matching track is in another room.

[@ivyjim1715]

Great idea re: moving from programming track to layout!

[@dwaineruthannarmentrout1811]

I hadn't seen this product advertised anywhere else before your video so I'm really glad you highlighted this new product. You're correct that it has so many good uses! Thanks for showcasing it.

[@steveedwards9957]

Thanks Larry. As a turntable it's a creative use of the MPD that I hadn't imagined. I've ordered one already from my distributor in Australia.

[@thehobbyistden3720]

Larry thanks for sharing this info! I got a Y6B I broke a handle on trying to stick it back in its plastic sheet case before the foam protection to store it, these look like a real life safer for storing and swapping locomotives! Also looks like a double use for railing the larger steam and centipede style running gear trains to the track too 😀

[@scottleidenberger4401]

That's a clever idea and useful as well.

[@andrewstevenson5449]

Peco used to make something very similar (but not quite as well engineered as these from DCC Concepts). Unfortunately they stopped producing them and replaced them with something vastly inferior, so the DCC Concepts MPDs are a welcome introduction.

[@gbwdude]

I've built a few cassettes, they work great. I don't use them to transport to the train club or anything and have never left the house, but use them to turn steam engines in staging.

[@robinrye3964]

Nice new table top Larry. The Class 66 Freightliner loco in the background has the proper solution....a cab at each end.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes and in the UK many of the biggest steam locos are regularly run tender first because of a lack,of a turntable,or reverse loop,or wye.

[@berkeleygang1834]

Or a Garret. Lumber companies didn't seem to care which way their Shays, Heislers, and Climax's ran.

[@zaklex3165]

MPD's are what they're called in the UK, it's where they assign locomotives...basically how it was when steam was king and engines had assigned round houses. The UK has kept this practice even with diesels.

[@thomasgrassi8817]

Larry very cool product I have a few places on my layout that I would like to use that I have a turnout and two reverse loops but my yard is on a separate level and that would be handy turning around engines there. thanks for sharing.

[@martinsims1273]

Thank you for sharing this. I've seen cassette's, but I didn't know about these. They are a really good idea (& from a well known, well reputed company too. Now I'm seriously considering buying one for my stock handling.

[@steamfan007]

The perfect solution for my stub ended staging yards! But I delayed watching Larry's video today - with the result that Iron Planet Hobbies are already out of stock 😩

[@TheDCCGuy]

Did you add your name to the wishlist?

[@steamfan007]

@@TheDCCGuy Yes, of course (should have said so)!

[@michaelricks1618]

Thanks Larry. Very interesting and informative. Well filmed too!

[@randydobson1863]

hello larry & it's is randy and i like yours video is cool thanks larry friends randy

[@HumancityJunction]

I did not understand how these units worked from the images onine, thanks for doing a video on them.

[@MoandPapaw-qe1ts]

That is a very interesting gizmo. If it is reasonable in price it would really be worth having. It looks like it could call it a pour mans turn table.

[@dkaustin98]

Now if only DCC Concepts could give us a kit that would allow us to change out the handles so, we can run On30 locos into those. Wouldn’t be able to store those in the original boxes, but to use those for turning On30 locos would be great!

[@ironworksmodels]

Ha, yes! I made the same comment. 👍

[@berkeleygang1834]

The handles should be removable, so perhaps 3D printing new handles is an option?

[@dkaustin98]

@@berkeleygang1834 That is what I was thinking.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I’m pretty sure they insert into slots on the ends of the aluminum rails so 3D prints might work. But let me ask my contact at DCCconcepts about them making taller handles and an N scale version.

[@kennethstout9237]

Very interesting. Good video.

[@ColtonRMagby]

Turntables, reverse loops, and MPDs are good options, but a wye is perfect for this if you have a track going to an industry that connects to the end of a yard. I'd use the MPD to store the locomotives and rolling stock when they're not in use so I can place them wherever I need to on the layout when I decide to use them again, as well as to help protect them if I have to transport them somewhere else for whatever reason.

[@TheDCCGuy]

A wye would be good but also takes up a lot of space on a layout. Remember that with a wye you not only need the space for the wye itself but also tail tracks long enough to accommodate whatever you were turning. On the prototype wyes were often located outside of cities and towns because they took up valuable real estate. When I lived in Manassas VA outside Washington DC they used to park the N&W J there instead of DC or Alexandria because there was a wye there big enough to turn it.

[@ColtonRMagby]

@@TheDCCGuy That's true.

[@danshobbies13]

I ordered 2 of them. I think it a good investment for expensive locos.

[@ronduz1281]

Awesome video

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

When you were spinning it around the first time, I was sure you were just going to lay it across the tracks and short out the layout.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Yes, you need to stay aware of what you are doing and make sure not to bridge across adjacent tracks. But as long as you’re not sloppy it really isn’t a problem even in a yard area like where I was demonstrating it.

[@cllines604]

thanks for the info

[@paulthewall4764]

With the E-7nits you only really need to turn the “A” unit.

[@ironworksmodels]

I wish they had made the cross member clearance higher so we could use them with On30 locos.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I will make that point to the sales manager.

[@davidkoehler136]

although reverse loops existed they were rare ,a simple Y is easy er

[@denniswilson2690]

In Canada DCC Concepts MPD-360 Motive Power Depot Drive On/Off Storage 360mm is $60.15 Canadian plus taxes

[@TheDCCGuy]

Is that at Kingston Locomotive Works? Iron Planet Hobbies has them for $49.72 USD and I think shipping is $6.99 but is free with a $100 purchase.

[@denniswilson2690]

Yes its Kingston Locomotive works @@TheDCCGuy

[@berkeleygang1834]

Unfortunately, I couldn't find it at Iron Planet Hobbies, in either the In-Stock or Out of Stock listings for DCC Concept products. eBay did, however, come through with several US based vendors. I'll be much more conofident taking my locomotives to the club. The PPW totes are great for rolling stock, but a little sketchy for big steam engines.

[@davidhayes-moats8019]

Just search for Motive Power Depot, I did and they came right up.

[@TheDCCGuy]

All you need to do is search for MPD and they come up every time for me.

[@rtalbot87]

Nice concept, but Aluminium is very conductive. Make sure you don't drop it or place it across live rails !

[@ledyardbrady6623]

Are there any plans to make these units available for N Scale?

[@TheDCCGuy]

I will make that point to the sales manager.

[@MoandPapaw-qe1ts]

wander if they would work on n scale?

[@TheDCCGuy]

We’ll never know since they are only made for HO/OO scale.

[@tomspettel3646]

Hour away really isnt enough Send it more than a days drive so it would have to be sorted and reloaded then see how it makes it

[@TheDCCGuy]

We actually considered boxing one up and shipping a loco to me here in the US but unfortunately they never managed the time to put it together due to all the shows and shortage of staff. Would have been an interesting test of UK and US mail as well as DHL handling!

[@donaldshroyer8633]

Are N scale versions available?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Not that I know of.

[@PalmSpringsPatriot]

Boo!

[@HolidayDecorator]

May not be feasible, but I have an indoor G scale layout and these would sure be useful in this scale too. Would even be useful on an outdoor G scale layout too.

[@MissKarenB]

Price point?

[@TheDCCGuy]

Varies with country, currency exchange rate, dealer, and size, check the websites of a favorite dealer in your country. However I can easily buy a couple of these for less than what it would cost me to build a reverse loop or turntable big enough.

[@mikeseba7817]

👍👍👍

[@dogyerf21]

Prices aren’t bad, but you’re still handling and fiddling with the locomotive to turn it.

[@TheDCCGuy]

Gee, I don’t remember touching those locos even once during the video!

[@MarkInLA]

Why not instead Install a wye in your trackage, and turn it realistically.

[@TheDCCGuy]

A larger turntable would occupy less room than a large wye. Remember that in addition to the wye itself you also need tail tracks about the same length so wyes take up a bit of real estate.

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

@@TheDCCGuyit’s like people aren’t paying attention during the beginning of the video.

[@lescobrandon3047]

As a guy in On30…😆

[@stephensouthcombe6439]

Rather high risk of short circuiting against adjacent parallel tracks

[@PKCrouse]

If you follow NMRA guidelines for track spacing, there appears to be plenty of clearance to avoid contact with parallel tangents.

[@TheDCCGuy]

I could see where if you get distracted you could potentially set it down on adjacent tracks but people do that all the time with screw drivers and other tools. That’s why fast acting circuit breakers are so important to have.

[@yardmaster67]

A "Y" would do the same thing.

[@bageldad]

I’m sorry - I love everything you do Larry - but this….this is about the most silly thing I have seen….and for $50-$70…. This is not for me….

[@TheDCCGuy]

People have been using these things for years and they work! I’ve seen them made long enough to store entire trains on. There is an article on trains.com showing how to build one just search for “model railroad cassette”.

[@andrewlaverghetta715]

Definitely not silly, it’s a product of necessity. When you want a turntable or a wye but don’t have room, this is a good thing to keep off to the side, especially for…just as he said, consists, difficult to move steam locos, or in harder to reach areas. Set a track aside for it if you want and it’s basically your turntable. That all being said, if it’s not your kind of thing, that’s fine.