Arocs delivers a 170 tonne Super Grid Transformer

A normal day in the life of these truckers.

Collett & Sons have been providing heavy haulage solutions since the early 1970s. Specialising in heavy transport and lift plus marine and transport consulting, the company’s fleet consists of 65 trucks, 120 specialist trailers and 110 lines of hydraulic modular trailer axles.

Put simply, the company is prepared to deal with some of the biggest haulage jobs across a variety of industries, including renewable energy, aerospace and aviation plus power generation.

Six months of preparation.

Naturally, Collett & Sons were left undaunted by the prospect of transporting a 170 tonne Super Grid Transformer across the North West.

The planning for the two-day project actually started six months prior, as much preparation is essential to ensure safe passage of the load. Collett & Sons’ Head of Projects, Liam McLoughlin explains, “In many cases, work on the movements start six months to a year prior to the transportation. Initially the routes are surveyed and if fortunate, there may be a couple of feasible options…the route that will cause the least amount of disruption to the greater public is ultimately chosen.”

Prior to each move, the route is analysed and assured via various methods including computer swept path simulations. While these simulations provide valuable information, they don’t take into account the ‘live’ scenarios and the interaction and unpredictability of other road users.

Therefore, local councils and police forces have to be contacted to ensure additional support can be provided. Typically, traffic signals have to be modified and signs, railings and other street furniture removed plus the assistance of escorts is required, to ensure the convoy has the necessary space to pass through safely.

Day one: a big job for big trucks.

The task required strength and durability. Step up the robust and reliable Mercedes-Benz Arocs. The truck worked with another vehicle in a push/pull formation, with the Super Grid Transformer secured to a specialist 550 tonne capacity Scheuerle girder bridge.

At 69.6 metres long, the convoy was hard to miss but Collett & Sons used their expertise to ensure the journey was a smooth one. Departing at 8am on a Saturday morning, the team first discharged the Super Grid Transformer from the vessel at Ellesmere Port and after exiting, performed the first of four ‘end change’ procedures – this involved uncoupling each of the trucks and re-coupling in a mirrored formation, which effectively flips the combination 180 degrees. This is completed during parts of the journey where it isn’t possible for the convoy to complete a turn in its current formation.

Slowly does it for this convoy.

Once out of Cheshire, the crew followed the planned route towards Holmes Chapel and on arrival undertook a second ‘end change’, flipping the girder bridge 180 degrees once again. By late Saturday afternoon, they’d travelled 45 miles and were settling down for the night at Barthomley Interchange.

 – Heath Harding-Hill (Collett & Sons Lead Driver)

Day two: manoeuvring, jacking and skidding.

At 8am on Sunday, the team were packed up and embarking on the second stage of their journey – 22 miles to Stoke-on-Trent. The day included two more ‘end change’ manoeuvres and certain slip road requirements but after a total of 12 hours transporting time, the convoy pulled up at Cellarhead Substation.

The crew completed their next task – manoeuvring the Super Grid Transformer to the awaiting supports on the skidway. Once safely positioned, the side beams of the girder bridge were disconnected and equipped with support wheels, allowing for the front and rear bogies of the girder bridge to be autonomously driven clear of the transformer.

Finally, the ‘Heavy Lift Team’ began hydraulically jacking and skidding the Super Grid Transformer across the 23 metre track to its resting plinth.

Job well done, as always.

For Collett & Sons, this is simply a typical job. When asked about challenges, Liam considers future possibilities, “As the cargo increases in length, width, height and weight, there is a continuous requirement for the trailers to be longer with a greater number of axles and the trucks need to be versatile to cope with demands.”

However he remains optimistic, “Of course there are challenges and sometimes the unexpected arises, but the team have the experience and equipment to overcome these and deliver for our clients.”

Find out more about Collett & Sons.

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