raymundo:
How much would one of these max out at ? The transformer was 274 mt.
0
Ballast tractor at 40-44 tonne each, then the axle lines and the girder set, I doubt you would get much change out of 400tonne, if the transformer is really 274 Tonne, cos if it is there seems to be a few axles short
It was definitely 274 mt, we transported it by ship from Ellesmere Port to Tilbury so had to do the stability and load line calculations.
We did another from Rotterdam to Barrow in Furness that was going to Goole but couldn’t take it direct as there was a bridge it would have had to cross that wasn’t rated for the weight.
on this job in Northern Ireland we two tractor units, one to pull the load and the other to push, however on some bridges we had to unhook the back unit as combined they would exceed the rated load for the bridge- this is why I am sceptical about Dozy’s mates claims, he has either got wrong information, not the full story or he has done something illegal and dangerous. No haulier unless they are completely stupid would take a load over a bridge it is not rated for, simple facts are that under STGO regs the haulier would be liable for all any any damage, , you drop a bridge over a railway track and your looking at paying millions of pounds- no haulier in their right mind is going to take that risk,
I will put my hands up when I am mistaken, there has been occasions where a load has been taken over a lower rated bridge, as confirmed to me by a well respected heavy haulage operator, however its not something the driver would be aware of, they(or their client) had to lodge a hefty indemnity against any damage and pay a lot of money for the bridges to be surveyed before hand and inspected afterwards. Its something that is only done when no other option and very special reasons for doing so.
psv8:
I have never had a route that actually specifies what any bridge is rated at so how does your mate no . I call bull
You will get notes of to travel no more than 10mph no gear changes or braking but never tell you what weights are .
This ^ PSV8 knows the game as well as anyone, I have never had a movement order that detailed the load ratings of any structure, only instructions like “on bridge ■■■ the load must straddle lanes 2 and 3, the load must not be stationary at any point, and must not exceed 15 mph”
Goldfinger:
I’d like to know if anyone here knows who took the transformer into ‘Electric Mountain’ in Wales when it was being built■■?
450tons, and once there, it had to be reversed down into the mountain…
Not sure but likely to have been ALE, Abnormal Load Engineering and I think it was a generator not a transformer.
Their kit looks impressive, wouldn’t mind having a job with them.
Anyone know the specs of the trucks they use for those transformers? Make/hp/weights etc?
Goldfinger:
I’d like to know if anyone here knows who took the transformer into ‘Electric Mountain’ in Wales when it was being built■■?
450tons, and once there, it had to be reversed down into the mountain…
Not sure but likely to have been ALE, Abnormal Load Engineering and I think it was a generator not a transformer.
Their kit looks impressive, wouldn’t mind having a job with them.
Anyone know the specs of the trucks they use for those transformers? Make/hp/weights etc?
Long time ago now but I think the total of the two in the picture I posted came to around the 14/1500 hp mark I remember the pusher one was a Man and that was 700hp
Thanks for al the replies, I find all this stuff fascinating and it’s something I would have liked to have done but stated driving too late in life. I don’t know how much experience you need for this sort of work, but by the time I got it I would probably been to old, assuming I was ever goo enough.
dozy:
If you had a ninety ton load and part of your route took you over a 60t railway bridge ( not sure how they know a railway bridge can take 60t but I’m sure someone on here will l ow ) , why would you need too drive over that bridge at 2 mph , I’d of thought the quicker you crossed over the better , obviously trains would be stopped but would they check bridge in advance , whilst your crossing , what happens if there’s a issue with bridge whilst your crossing , what happens then ta
We have Bridges Time and a Half stronger then signposted. In Fakt they calculate and test the Bridge with a Weight 3 Times over that 90 Ton,then they give it free for 90 Ton,which gets reduced by the Authority to 60 Ton rolling Traffic. (Tests are done by standing Traffic)
There’s a photo in a book by Bob Tuck called “Trucks” that has a Chris Miller Antar on the cover. Millers did the taps I believe that control the water into the generators. There are photos in another of his books of Bonzo Bear (the Mack) coming through Saddleworth where I live on their way from Yorkshire where they were made.
The Antar was based at Dinorwic so that they always had gear on-site. There’s also a photo in the book of Pickfords moving a transformer into there with a Scammell Contractor and girder set.
Whessoe (who built the ‘penstock’ pipes) had their own Scammell on site too with a special trailer to carry the pipes as low as possible.
however on some bridges we had to unhook the back unit as combined they would exceed the rated load for the bridge- this is why I am sceptical about Dozy’s mates claims, he has either got wrong information, not the full story or he has done something illegal and dangerous. No haulier unless they are completely stupid would take a load over a bridge it is not rated for, simple facts are that under STGO regs the haulier would be liable for all any any damage, , you drop a bridge over a railway track and your looking at paying millions of pounds- no haulier in their right mind is going to take that risk,