Montpelier in Washington County, Vermont — The American Northeast (New England)
Railroad Turntable, circa 1907
This railroad turntable, constructed in 1907, is a physical reminder of the once thriving granite industry and supportive railroad infrastructure along the Montpelier Riverfront. Also known as a “gallows turntable” due to its shape, this turntable could rotate a steam locomotive in order to change its direction to align it with sets of tracks leading into the adjacent engine house for repairs.
The rotating track deck is supported by metal trusses and turns on a central pivot mounted on a concrete pedestal. The thick middle and tapered ends of the track deck concentrated the locomotive’s weight on the center pivot, allowing the entire assembly to turn freely on a circular track embedded in the concrete foundation on sets of wheels at each end of the track deck. Once the locomotive was perfectly centered on the turntable, an electric motor would rotate the track deck to the desired position.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.
Location. 44° 15.275′ N, 72° 34.391′ W. Marker is in Montpelier, Vermont, in Washington County. Marker is on Stone Cutters Way, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: Turntable Park, Montpelier VT 05602, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Arthur Tandy (within shouting distance of this marker); Main Street Bridge & F.W. Bailey Mill, Circa 1920 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Winooski River From Bailey’s Grain Tower, 1929 (approx. 0.2 miles away); Flood of 1927, Montpelier and Wells River Railroad Station and Yard (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of the Caldwell House (approx. 0.4 miles away); Senator William Upham (approx. half a mile away); Lafayette’s Tour / Le Tour De Lafayette (approx. 0.6 miles away); State House (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Montpelier.
Credits. This page was last revised on December 12, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 12, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. This page has been viewed 139 times since then and 7 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 12, 2021, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.