A heavy load was escorted very slowly through Brownwood on Thursday morning and into the afternoon, on its way to a substation in Brookesmith, Texas.
The load was a 750,000 pound transformer on a special hauling truck’s trailer which had 112 wheels to support the enormous weight. These wheels were mounted on 8 axles which were hydraulically controlled to keep the load level as it traveled. The axles can move up and down and are able to individually be turned. The axles and their heights are manually controlled as the load moves down the road at a “snail’s pace,” top speed of 10 miles per hour.
The Mitsubishi transformer is one of three which will move through Brownwood to Brookesmith, via Bangs due to the weight limits. The three transformers were made in Japan, shipped to the U.S., eventually making landfall at the port of Houston. Once in Houston, Field Supervisor Robert Castillo of Colossal Transport Solutions, LLC had the task of getting the transformer to its destination.
Being a large heavy load, there are many issues in the move. Shipping by truck is limited as the load can move at very limited speeds, so the transformer was moved from Houston to Brownwood by railway. It also has a height of approximately 21 feet tall, so there are problems with power lines that have to be lifted or moved, and a route that will allow it to pass under bridges and over bridges that are not built to carry its large load. That’s where ATI Crane Services of Brownwood came in to help on Thursday morning. Jack Bolton and crane operator David Helmick assisted the Colossal crew by installing a bridge jump for the load to cross a boxed culvert bridge located on Old Coleman Road, near the intersection with Borden Street. Other companies involved in the transport were Higgs Electric of Decatur, Scribs Moving & Heavy Hauling of David City, NE, and Grimsley Electric of Brownwood.
Four 9,000 pound bridge jumpers were placed across the expanse of the bridge to keep the weight of the load suspended just inches above the bridge.
The task of moving the load from the railroad near Vine Street to the intersection of Cordell took more than three hours.
The load still had over 30 miles to go, traveling down Bluffview Drive, up Bangs Hill on Hwy 67, through Bangs and down to Brooksmith via Farm Market Road 586. Traffic was backed up in both directions on Hwy 67 as it crossed W. Commerce. As the load traveled up the hill, it lost traction and had to be pulled up the hill by two heavy hauling trucks.
Two more of these transformers will be moved later this month. The first is scheduled to be moved Monday morning and the second should be in another ten days, as it has yet to reach the port in Houston according to Colossal officials.
The transformers will be part of a new substation in Brookesmith that adds to the local power grid. The shipping of the transformers has been good for the local economy, through the hiring of local companies such as City of Brownwood street crews, ATI Crane Service and local law enforcement as part of the escort. Off duty officers from Brownwood Police Department, Bangs Police Department and Brown County Sheriff’s Office provided assistance with traffic control as the load moved slowly through the area.
Part of the transformer’s journey is pictured above and below.
Transfer from rail to truck for transport.
Placing bridge jumpers.
Bridge jumpers in place, load slowly moves toward the bridge. Utility lines are lifted to make way for its height.
Making it under the utility lines.
Crossing the bridge.
The weight of the transformer is held just inches above the surface of the bridge.
The load coming off of the bridge jumpers.
