Cambridge in Cambridgeshire, England, United Kingdom — Northwestern Europe (the British Isles)

Cambridge Station Turntable Pivot Cone

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 28, 2026

1. Cambridge Station Turntable Pivot Cone Marker

Inscription. This pivot cone was discovered during the excavation works at CB1 and reinstated here as a piece of Industrial heritage. It was the central balancing and turning mechanism for the historic railway turntable at Cambridge Station, as shown in the aerial photograph opposite taken in 1959. The turntable bridge is recorded as being 70 feet long.

A railway turntable is a device for turning railway vehicles, so they can travel back in the direction from which they came. This was especially important for steam locomotives which were optimised to run in only one direction. Turntables were also used to turn observation cars (a type of passenger carriage) so their rear windows designed for passengers to enjoy the view-faced toward the rear of the train.

Railway turntables consisted of a circular pit in which a steel bridge rotated. The bridge was typically supported by the central pivot to reduce the total load and allow easy turning.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars.

Location. 52° 11.693′ N, 0° 8.154′ E. Marker is in Cambridge,

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England, in Cambridgeshire. It is on Station Square. The pivot cone and marker are located on the north side (back) of the Clayton Hotel Cambridge, reachable from Station Road by walking north along the east side of the hotel. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 Station Square, Cambridge, England CB1 2FX, United Kingdom. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in England’s East Anglia.

Globally, it is on the Atlantic Ocean,

in the North Atlantic Region,

in Europe,

in Atlantic Europe,

on one of the British Isles,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Roman Empire.

Other nearby markers. At least 5 other markers are within 6 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mill Road Cemetery (approx. 0.8 kilometers away); Stephen Perse (approx. 1.4 kilometers away); Great St. Mary’s Datum (approx. 1.7 kilometers away); Rupert Brooke (approx. 3.4 kilometers away); Great Shelford (approx. 5.2 kilometers away).

Cambridge Station Turntable Pivot Cone image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Ray Gurganus, April 28, 2026

2. Cambridge Station Turntable Pivot Cone

Credits. This page was last revised on July 22, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 22, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 4 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 22, 2026, by Ray Gurganus of Washington, District of Columbia. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.