1200t bridge being moved this weekend in London.

[Gaz]

Yesterday went on down to London Bridge, or Borough high street to be exact in a LTM1100 to start putting together 42 axle lines of SPMT's that are going to transport a new bridge 90 yards over Borough high st. There a link below that will give the basic details of what is going down.

http://www.betterbankside.co.uk/news/development-news/1587-borough-viaduct-thameslink-programme

Space is very limited, i'm on a short outrigger base and very tightly controlled at there is a life railway behind me and ventilation shafts for the london underground

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3452.jpg

The viaduct has been built right up to the roadside and the 1200t bridge has been constructed on top. The red stack is a Mammoet jacking tower.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3453.jpg

The SPMT's will have a Jacking tower on them, will pick up the bridge and travel across Borough high st. The other end of the bridge will run on the rails you can see on top of the green girders of the new viaduct. One it has traveled across the back end of the bridge will be in line with the jacking tower in the previous picture, the 2 jacking towers will lower the bridge down onto the pillers

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3455.jpg

7 days time this view will be much different.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3456.jpg

1st of many SPMT's to arrive.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3457.jpg

More SPMT's

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3462.jpg

Lifting right up close, as I said space is tight and there weighty things....this 6 line unit had the power pack on an came up 32t.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3464.jpg

Got quite difficult to maneuver them around at 1 point so we ended up stacking them!

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3468.jpg

SMPT's everywhere!!!!!

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3472.jpg

More!!!!!!!

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3469.jpg

Joining them up

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3471.jpg

At the end of the day we had the 3 x 14 axle line SPMT's, tomorrow they'll be connected side by side and the then i'll be building up the Jacking tower, some of the parts of which have arrived along with some heavy duties steel matts to spread the massive weight of the bridge over the deck as much as possible.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3479.jpg

Enjoy, i'll post some more as it happens.
Gaz

[Jack]

Aboslouetly fantastic mate!!

[samk706]

interesting series of pics Gaz.. thanks thats one big bridge lol...

[liebherr112fan]

while i was in London working i traveled the train line every day and watched this bridge being built. its great to finally see it close to completion, hoped it would be moved beofore i left but to no avail. so Gaz great shots please keep them coming.
you have to get jibtickler to join here too.

keep them coming ok i watch also with the Kleenex out. lol

[cranky the crane]

Love you GAZ xxxxxxx

[John Mac]

Gaz, Thanks for the great pictures mate, When is the move actually happening as I might make me way up there to get to watch it happen in the flesh, you don't see this sort a thing often.

[richie51]

you get some choice jobs down there in the smoke

[argie]

Brilliant photos Gaz. Looks like your having a good time there!
Paul

[Gaz]

Big day tomorrow, here are todays pictures.....

final touches getting the bridge ready for launch.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3512.jpg

Getting the huge braces for the jack up towers.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3515.jpg

lifting the brace.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3518.jpg

finished, ready for a truly epic job in the morning.

URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3524.jpg


URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3527.jpg


URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3528.jpg


URL of the original image: http://i283.photobucket.com/albums/kk309/dhgareth/IMG_3529.jpg


To put a real dampener on things they do not need my crane for tomorrows launch so told me not to come in.....i'm going to take a trip tomorrow and take a few pictures as its only down the road from me really.

Gaz

[topkit]

Excellent pictures Gaz i was gonna get the train up from Tonbridge to take some pics but the wife reminded me we have got to go to a friends wedding (i know which i would prefer to be at) !!