Yamacraw Village in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Drop Table

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2013

1. Drop Table Marker

Inscription. The Drop Table is located in the Roundhouse. It is a device that enabled mechanics to remove the axles and wheels of a locomotive easily. This allowed repairs to the wheel assembly and to otherwise inaccessible parts of the locomotive.

The Drop Table consisted of a platform and a short section of track. When mechanics lowered the Drop Table beneath a locomotive, the wheel assembly sitting on the Drop Table was lowered into the pit. The Drop Table then moved the wheel assembly horizontally in the pit to an adjacent track. Mechanics raised the Drop Table to ground level in the adjacent bay where they serviced or replaced the wheel assembly.

(captions)
(lower left) Note the wheel assemblies on this modern Drop Table track.

(upper right) The modern example of a Drop Table (below left) functions much the same as its historic version (above). The Drop Table sits in the Roundhouse as shown on the plan below. It is unique because it still functions. The Whiting company, Midwestern firm established in 1884, manufactured it and continues to make drop tables today like the one at the bottom left.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Railroads & Streetcars. A significant historical year for this entry is 1884.

Location. 32° 4.517′ N, 81° 6.117′ W.

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Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in Yamacraw Village. Marker can be reached from Louisville Road, 0.2 miles east of West Boundary Street, on the right when traveling east. The marker is located on the grounds of the Georgia State Railroad Museum. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 655 Louisville Road, Savannah GA 31401, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Storehouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Blacksmith Shop (within shouting distance of this marker); Smokestack (within shouting distance of this marker); Colored Shopmen's Locker & Lavatory (within shouting distance of this marker); Boiler Room (within shouting distance of this marker); Planing Shed & Lumber Shed (within shouting distance of this marker); Central Of Georgia Railroad (within shouting distance of this marker); Turntable (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Also see . . .
1. Georgia State Railroad Museum. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on October 6, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

2. Coastal Heritage Museum. Website homepage (Submitted on October 6, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)

Photographed By Don Morfe, September 22, 2013

2. Drop Table Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on October 6, 2023. It was originally submitted on November 18, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. This page has been viewed 461 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 18, 2013, by Don Morfe of Baltimore, Maryland. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.