Drehscheibe

Drehscheibe, in railway terminology, is a rotating circular platform with rails that enables locomotives and rolling stock to be turned or redirected to different tracks. It is used in locomotive depots, marshalling yards, and maintenance facilities to change the direction a locomotive faces or to position equipment for servicing.

Historically, turntables arose in the 19th century as rail networks expanded and space for operations became a concern. They provide a compact solution for turning locomotives and for linking a locomotive to multiple departing tracks without requiring long turning routes. Modern installations may be integrated with adjacent roundhouses, sheds, or service tracks.

Construction and operation details vary, but a typical Drehscheibe consists of a circular deck with rail connections that rests on a pivot and is driven by an electric, hydraulic, or geared drive system. The deck is housed in a pit or frame and is aligned with several radial tracks. To operate, the chosen track is aligned with the corresponding exit track, the deck is rotated to match the rail, and the locomotive or cars are moved on or off as required. Turntables can also serve to reposition rolling stock within a yard or to connect to maintenance facilities.

Variants and contemporary use: In many modern mainline yards, turntables have been supplemented or replaced by track layouts such as wyes, loops, or longer fault-tolerant turn areas. Nevertheless, numerous turntables remain in service in preserved railways, museums, and some regional depots, where they illustrate historical operational practices and engineering.

Etymology and scope: The term translates to “turn table” in German, and similar devices exist worldwide under the name turntable, reflecting a common approach to maneuvering locomotives and cars in constrained spaces.