FIL said sometime in mid '50's the railroad bridge taken out of service over the road south of Lake City, Iowa had two long beams (or more)that were hauled west on Hwy 30 (old Lincoln Way). The load was so long that a man was operating a steering wheel and sitting just "6 inches off the road under the back bogey and under the beam" made it possible to negotiate the corners. Must have been some kinda ride! Anyone ever see anything like that? Leonard
- Thread starter IA Leo
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Anonymous-0
Well-known Member
Thay move the big wind turbine blades like the one's mfg. in Ft. Madison, Ia. in somewhat the same fashion. The back wheels are adjusted by, I assume hydraulics. They have to stop and adjust the rear wheels to negotiate the corners such as entering or exiting the on or off ramps on a 4-lane highway. Interesting to watch. They also move a lot of them by rail.
Hoss In ME
Member
Long tractor trailor ladder fire trucks are built that way to negotiate tight turns in cities. Hoss
Around here they a re falling all over themselves to tear up every rail they can find. So much for encouraging more industry to come in where rail service would be a need! Can't imagine how difficult it will be to re-establish rails after they've been torn up, and the right-of-way contracts, some over a hundred years old.
Real push around here to pave right-of-ways and turn loose hordes of bycicles, and other users such as snowmobilers, atv-ers, and motorcycles.
Real push around here to pave right-of-ways and turn loose hordes of bycicles, and other users such as snowmobilers, atv-ers, and motorcycles.
All the small factories, grain mills, and other stuff that fed the railroad's are gone. If they could make money at it, they would. The Ann Arbor Railroad Co. is headquatered in Howell, about 8 miles from me. They took over some old tracks thru central Michigan. Using old equipment, and small crews, they are said to be very maginally profitable, in good years. They have converted some rows to parks here.
HENRY E NC
Member
I have seen that many times but not lately. Probably back in the 60-70's during the massive building of the Interstate system. Some had a cab hanging out the side as I recall. Henry
Over at Fonda they are tearing up the track east of the elevator and replacing the track. I had to sit and wait 20 minutes today for a coal train to come through. Those usually roar through at 50+ mph. Today it came to a stop and sat there a while. I had a nap while I waited in the tractor seat.
I just got unloaded and headed back across the tracks (there's 3 of 'em right there) when the lights came on a second time. Another train was about 200 yards to the east. A farm tractor and wagon can sit between the tracks but an 18-wheeler would be across one or more tracks.
Speaking of the trains... Those tracks just got the crossing posts with the dropping bars a couple months ago. I think the concrete bases must not be big enough because those posts really wiggle when that long board comes down! It used to have just the flashing lights, the dropping board thing is new. (I know there's a name for it, I forgot just now.)
Rant: The tracks have a little booth beside them that clearly reads "Canadien National" on it. I'm not in Canada!
I just got unloaded and headed back across the tracks (there's 3 of 'em right there) when the lights came on a second time. Another train was about 200 yards to the east. A farm tractor and wagon can sit between the tracks but an 18-wheeler would be across one or more tracks.
Speaking of the trains... Those tracks just got the crossing posts with the dropping bars a couple months ago. I think the concrete bases must not be big enough because those posts really wiggle when that long board comes down! It used to have just the flashing lights, the dropping board thing is new. (I know there's a name for it, I forgot just now.)
Rant: The tracks have a little booth beside them that clearly reads "Canadien National" on it. I'm not in Canada!
Fort Madison? Is that where that wind turbine parking lot is over by Evansdale? It reminded me of the power plant fields from The Matrix, seeing that. $2Million wind turbines laying in pieces as far as the eye can see... Wow.
I spotted it off the north side of new Hwy 20 over there. I think I was crossing an overpass at the time.
I spotted it off the north side of new Hwy 20 over there. I think I was crossing an overpass at the time.
Janicholson
Well-known Member
One of the bridges in St Cloud MN was declared to be unsafe (it was designed by the same group and to similar specs as the 35W bridge that fell in the Twin Cities)
Last summer the beams for the bridge were trucked into town. Each section was ~175 feet long (guess from being in my truck going the other way on the same street a one of them passed by) the truck had a remote steering rear wheel set controlled (I believe) by a passenger in a following Wide Load vehicle. It was an impressive load, and was driven between the traffic lights to avoid hitting them in heighth. JimN
Last summer the beams for the bridge were trucked into town. Each section was ~175 feet long (guess from being in my truck going the other way on the same street a one of them passed by) the truck had a remote steering rear wheel set controlled (I believe) by a passenger in a following Wide Load vehicle. It was an impressive load, and was driven between the traffic lights to avoid hitting them in heighth. JimN
deadeye012
Member
When I was in the Air Force in the early 60's, we had transport trailers for the highway to move ATLAS and TITAN missles down the highway on. Truck Tractor was a Ward La France with an extended wheel base or a Ford F-850. Both had 15 speed transmissions in them.....JB
omahagreg
Well-known Member
Used to have a precast concrete plant in Bellevue, Nebraska. They had some awful long bridge beams to move, and had what appeared to be, a whole tractor under the back end-no cab, no motor, just a steering axle and 'drives'. They would steer the back one independant of the pulling tractor. Greg
See it all the time. Boeing makes wing parts in Frederickson, WA, and has several trucks like that to haul those long (a 747 wing spar is about 140 ft long) parts to the airplane factories in Renton and Everett, WA. The trip from Frederickson to Everett is probably about 70 miles each way, thru some pretty dense traffic.
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