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Nuttall and Delroyd Custom Gear Drives for Rail Swing Bridge
The Beverly Drawbridge spans the Danvers River, connecting Beverly and Salem, Massachusetts. The
bridge is positioned adjacent to the Route 1A, Veterans Memorial Bridge. Originally built in 1885, the
rail bridge currently carries the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MBTA) Newport/Rockport
commuter line that originates in Boston.
The bridge’s center swing section rotates approximately 5,000 times per year to allow passage of marine
river traffic through two channels. More than 30 inbound and 30 outbound trains cross the busy bridge
daily. In recent years, the bridge had begun to experience mechanical problems requiring expensive
repairs while causing significant service interruptions and delays for thousands of daily commuters.
In 2017, the MTBA completed a major rehabilitation of the bridge that included a new swing span,
mechanical components, bridge wedges, and drive motor. Nuttall Gear and Delroyd Worm Gear worked
with project engineers at HNTB Corp., to design custom gear drives for the bridge’s 104 ft. swing span.
The Nuttall and Delroyd splash-lubricated enclosed reducers featured fabricated steel housings and
included inspections by an Independent Certified Weld Inspector (CWI). The project had a “Buy USA”
requirement (including country of origin for the steel). Required no load and 150% load tests were
performed in-house.
- Primary Differential Span Drive Reducer: Input rating: 15 HP @ 900 RPM, Reduction ratio: 2.53:1
- Secondary Span Drive Right Angle Reducers: Input rating: 7.5 HP @ 356 RPM, Reduction ratio: 48.11:1
- Wedge Drive Gearmotors w/Integral Brakes: Input rating: 10 HP @ 1750 RPM, Reduction ratio: 17.1:1
- Wedge Drive Right Angle Reducers: Input rating: 10 HP @ 104 RPM, Reduction ratio: 56.42:1
- Rail Lift Worm Gear Reducers: Input rating: 5 HP @ 1750 RPM, Reduction ratio: 450:1
Highlights
Nuttall Gear
Custom Reducers
- feature through-hardened
gearing with CWI weld
inspected, fabricated steel
housings
Delroyd Worm Gear
Custom Reducers
- feature a hardened, ground
and polished alloy steel worm
and bronze gear