You can do that with tracks and switches - in fact, you can also reverse rolling stock with a 'Wye'. I believe turntables were mostly used to reverse steam loco

You can do that with tracks and switches - in fact, you can also reverse rolling stock with a 'Wye'. I believe turntables were mostly used to reverse steam locomotive - tender sets, and to build engine sheds in constricted urban areas where there wasn't a lot of room for a switch network.