A metal railway turntable is a type of railway track component used to turn locomotives or railcars around in a limited space. The turntable consists of a circular metal platform that rotates around a central pivot point. The platform is typically made of steel and is supported by a series of rollers or bearings that allow it to rotate smoothly. The pivot point is usually a large steel column that is anchored to a concrete foundation. Metal railway turntables were first developed in the mid-19th century as a way to turn locomotives around at the end of a railway line without the need for a large loop or wye track. They were particularly useful in urban areas where space was limited and land was expensive. The turntables were also used in railway yards to move locomotives and railcars between different tracks. To use a metal railway turntable, a locomotive or railcar is driven onto the platform and positioned over the pivot point. The platform is then rotated by a motor or by hand until the locomotive or railcar is facing in the desired direction. The locomotive or railcar can then be driven off the platform and onto the next section of track. Today, metal railway turntables are less common than they once were, as modern locomotives and railcars are designed to operate in either direction. However, they are still used in some heritage railways and museums as a way to demonstrate how trains were turned around in the past.
railway, turntable, locomotive, pivot point, platform
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