What is the recommended electric motor power for turning a railway turntable?

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In summary, the conversation revolved around the difficulties faced while trying to turn an old railway turntable with an electric motor. The train that would use the turntable weighed 150 tons while the turntable itself weighed 12 tons and was 19.8 meters long. After trying with angular momentum, they were unable to find a suitable force and turned to others for suggestions. The solution involved using a 10 to 15 HP electric tractor and considering the resistance of the turntable wheels and bearings. Reference material was also mentioned for further information on the topic.
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Anthony.404
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Me and my friend are working on an old railway turntable for a museum, but we run into some problems. We need to know the force we needed to turn it with an electric motor, after spending a week trying with angular momentum we hit a dead end.
The train that going to use the turn table wegint 150ton and the turntable organiseert self is about12ton,19.8m long in the end we came up with some ridiculous numbers. Anybody have any suggestions on how should we do this? It wil be a great help.
 
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Approximately 2 manpower :

 
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The largest load is going to be the polar inertial torque resistance of the combined the engine and the turntable weight plus the mechanical friction resistance of the turntable wheels. After that the friction elements will be the only resisting force. Doing a proper classical analysis of the polar inertia is going to be difficult due to all of the elements of the turntable and the unequal weight distribution of the engine relative to the centerline of the table rotation.

See the below and just keep scanning (there are no page nos. for reference) to see that according to this reference, a 10 to 15 HP electric tractor was generally acceptable for turning a table. It also discusses the wheel/bearing resistance as well (more scanning).

https://archive.org/stream/locomotiveturnta00yeat/locomotiveturnta00yeat_djvu.txt
 
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Related to What is the recommended electric motor power for turning a railway turntable?

1. What is an "Un turn Railway turntable"?

An "Un turn Railway turntable" is a type of railway equipment used to turn locomotives or train cars around, allowing them to change direction on a single track. It consists of a circular platform that can rotate, and often has rails attached to it to guide the wheels of the train.

2. How does an "Un turn Railway turntable" work?

The circular platform of the turntable is typically powered by a motor or hand-crank, allowing it to rotate. The locomotive or train car is driven onto the turntable and positioned in the desired direction. The turntable is then rotated until the train is facing the desired direction, and it can then be driven off the turntable onto the track in the new direction.

3. What are the advantages of using an "Un turn Railway turntable"?

One of the main advantages of using an "Un turn Railway turntable" is that it allows trains to change direction without needing to use a separate section of track for a turnaround. This can save time and resources, especially in areas where space is limited. It can also be useful for maintenance purposes, as it allows for easy access to all sides of a train for repairs and inspections.

4. Where are "Un turn Railway turntables" commonly used?

"Un turn Railway turntables" are commonly used in rail yards, where trains may need to be turned around for various reasons, such as changing routes or entering a different track. They are also used in train stations, allowing trains to enter and exit the station in the same direction without needing to reverse.

5. Are there any safety considerations when using an "Un turn Railway turntable"?

Like any railway equipment, safety is an important consideration when using an "Un turn Railway turntable". Operators should ensure that the turntable is in good working condition and that all safety mechanisms are in place and functioning properly. It is also important to follow proper procedures when driving trains onto and off of the turntable to prevent accidents or damage to the equipment.

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