-Probably, in the 60’s, transformer oil was regarded as “harmless” while nowadays it would have “special techniques” to recover the oil. A bit like asbestos
Ach McKelvie would have put 3 FODENs wie 180 Gardners onto that and did 6mph Eddie.
cargocargocargo:
Read the comments - Daily Mail readers really are muppets.
Plenty of numpties but some funny ones, always make better reading than the actual stories most times…
“Obviously not a transformer, because then it could simply transform itself into a plane or helicopter and move easily to the new location. Many self-appointed experts have no idea whatsoever in labelling this generator a transformer.”
Quote - it continued along the M32 to the transformer’s destination at Avonmouth Docks, Bristol
Really… the M32…? so thats why there’s a pic of it on the M5 just after the Cribbs Causeway junction!
A tad more than the 640 tonne the Daily Mail claims as the biggest ever load- this was 1,200 tonnes- just goes to show don’t believe what you read in the papers 
40 years ago it would have gone in at around 300 tons as that was the capacity of the biggest trailer then Pickfords had 2 TM 1170 & TM 1277 both based at Kearsley Manchester the drivers were Georgie Wooler and Dickie Bird and I am sure Wynns had 2 they used to have a hovercraft type curtain which belonged to A E I to help to take the weight off over bridges and like Rikki said they would tell you weight was just O K for the biggest trailer then 
. The trailers had 6 axle rows at each end but it would be classed as 2 axles per row as they were on a hydraulic ram for each axle ( the same as the trailer used here ) but the tyres were either 1400 or 1600 so they would work it out at under 20 tons per axle. The one here looks to have 15 rows at each end in pairs so giving 60 axles so at 10 ton per axle 600 tons.
They would have gone in dry when new but if you moved them the transformer oil would be purged out with nitrogen into tankers ( often taking over 24 hours ) and then transported nearly empty. In the 60s and 70s it was usual to to work 80 tons on 4 rows and the 60 ton float trailers ( payload ) were 2 axles which grossed out around 75 tons and it was quite common to forget to count the bits which they left on which could push the weight up considerably I have had machines which were supposed to be around 40 tons and a 50 ton crane could not lift them.
cheers Johnnie
What kind of weight would it run at without the transformer?
Units and whatever the big red frame thing is called
The big red thing is called a girder set
Ive often wondered why they cant move big slow loads like this at night,surely it as to be safer,not as much traffic on the roads.
Herongate:
Quote - it continued along the M32 to the transformer’s destination at Avonmouth Docks, BristolReally… the M32…? so thats why there’s a pic of it on the M5 just after the Cribbs Causeway junction!
it came off at junc 18 went down the A36 then onto the A420 onto the ring road and back out up the M32 to rejoin the M4 before taking the M5, due to the fact at the M4 couldn’t take the weight between junc 18 and 19 
Rikki ( or anyone else experienced ) what would you say the best way is to get in to this sort of stuff and what’s the job really like ? Own flash big v8 or is that looking from the outside in
Smoggie89:
Rikki ( or anyone else experienced ) what would you say the best way is to get in to this sort of stuff and what’s the job really like ? Own flash big v8 or is that looking from the outside in
at the bottom, then in 10 years time you might get a go in the drivers seat
I cant talk for anyone else-each will have thier own story- I was one of the blue eyed boys on the company I worked for- got all the Sunday runs, more than my share of the double manned long loads as was probably in one of the top10 earners as far as drivers was concerned- but wanted to get into heavy haulage - so them a call, got an interview and got the job, and started back at the bottom- and when I say bottom I mean it, the first few big jobs I was on, I wasn’t driving anything-on the job, I would deliver some kit for the job then I was making tea, fetching light lenses- dragging chains about doing anything to make myself useful
After a few jobs people started to teach me how to build up trailers, the principles of 3 point suspension , other drivers would let me sit in their cabs and show me how to drive with a torque converter, how you follow a bar, the guys on the winches taught me how to realise when they were under too much strain, the trailermen showed me how to pipe up the hydraulics (or tried to,its something I never quite got)-all the time I was still fetching and carrying tea, for the lads, away from the big jobs did a few wide long and upto 65 tonne heavy loads
Then one day the boss announced I was getting a 150 tonner, and from that day- I still was fetching and carrying the tea but slowly I got to do bigger loads, had a couple go quite badly wrong and was back to making tea for a while and I would like to say that one day a fresh faced lad came up and asked if I wanted my tea bringing - but it didn’t happen because by then I realised whoever was free made the tea- no matter how long you had been there or what you had done, if you had nothing to do you made a brew for the lads- and that’s what that apprenticeship taught you, it was always a team effort, if any thing the guy turning the wheel was one of the least important, the skill is not in the driving, its being part of the team than plans the route, works out how to build and load the trailer -the trailermen were all far more qualified- watching and labouring for the lads jacking and skidding the loads- and the person who made the brews was the most valued of all- how to get into it? start at the bottom be prepared to do everything needed, spot what needs to be done and do it before being asked, and if the team like you, you may just get in.
Doesn’t matter what you have done before , what you do on the job is where your reputation is made, and at that end its a very small world and your reputation as a worker and a team member means everything- and that’s not just the drivers, but the lads who jack and skid, the trailer men even the escorts, without that you wont get start, lose your reputation and no matter what you have done you wont get on another team
As I said once you get to that end of the industry its a very small world and everyone knows you or knows of guys who have worked with you and if guys wont work with you- you wont get the job
'ad bigger than that in 'ere drive!
Rikki-UK:
I cant talk for anyone else-each will have thier own story- I was one of the blue eyed boys on the company I worked for- got all the Sunday runs, more than my share of the double manned long loads as was probably in one of the top10 earners as far as drivers was concerned- but wanted to get into heavy haulage - so them a call, got an interview and got the job, and started back at the bottom- and when I say bottom I mean it, the first few big jobs I was on, I wasn’t driving anything-on the job, I would deliver some kit for the job then I was making tea, fetching light lenses- dragging chains about doing anything to make myself usefulAfter a few jobs people started to teach me how to build up trailers, the principles of 3 point suspension , other drivers would let me sit in their cabs and show me how to drive with a torque converter, how you follow a bar, the guys on the winches taught me how to realise when they were under too much strain, the trailermen showed me how to pipe up the hydraulics (or tried to,its something I never quite got)-all the time I was still fetching and carrying tea, for the lads, away from the big jobs did a few wide long and upto 65 tonne heavy loads
Then one day the boss announced I was getting a 150 tonner, and from that day- I still was fetching and carrying the tea
Doesn’t matter what you have done before , what you do on the job is where your reputation is made, and at that end its a very small world and your reputation as a worker and a team member means everything- and that’s not just the drivers, but the lads who jack and skid, the trailer men even the escorts, without that you wont get start, lose your reputation and no matter what you have done you wont get on another team
As I said once you get to that end of the industry its a very small world and everyone knows you or knows of guys who have worked with you and if guys wont work with you- you wont get the job
Sounds very similar to working in motorsport, especially the bit about making tea.
muckles:
Rikki-UK:
I cant talk for anyone else-each will have thier own story- I was one of the blue eyed boys on the company I worked for- got all the Sunday runs, more than my share of the double manned long loads as was probably in one of the top10 earners as far as drivers was concerned- but wanted to get into heavy haulage - so them a call, got an interview and got the job, and started back at the bottom- and when I say bottom I mean it, the first few big jobs I was on, I wasn’t driving anything-on the job, I would deliver some kit for the job then I was making tea, fetching light lenses- dragging chains about doing anything to make myself usefulAfter a few jobs people started to teach me how to build up trailers, the principles of 3 point suspension , other drivers would let me sit in their cabs and show me how to drive with a torque converter, how you follow a bar, the guys on the winches taught me how to realise when they were under too much strain, the trailermen showed me how to pipe up the hydraulics (or tried to,its something I never quite got)-all the time I was still fetching and carrying tea, for the lads, away from the big jobs did a few wide long and upto 65 tonne heavy loads
Then one day the boss announced I was getting a 150 tonner, and from that day- I still was fetching and carrying the tea
Doesn’t matter what you have done before , what you do on the job is where your reputation is made, and at that end its a very small world and your reputation as a worker and a team member means everything- and that’s not just the drivers, but the lads who jack and skid, the trailer men even the escorts, without that you wont get start, lose your reputation and no matter what you have done you wont get on another team
As I said once you get to that end of the industry its a very small world and everyone knows you or knows of guys who have worked with you and if guys wont work with you- you wont get the job
Bloody good job cause I hate coffeec
Sounds very similar to working in motorsport, especially the bit about making tea.