- 01/03
Project Overview:
PSC was contracted to execute the complex transloading, transportation, and final positioning of three 250 MVA transformers, each weighing approximately 347,500 pounds.
The project required each transformer to be moved from a barge at the Licking River, transferred onto 10 lines of SPMT, transported to a transload area, and then transferred onto heavy-haul over-the-road transport.
Following a 67-mile journey from Wilder, Kentucky, to Trenton, Ohio, PSC would then reverse the process, transloading each transformer back onto SPMT and transporting it the final half-mile into position for jack-and-slide installation onto its permanent foundation.
Complicating the operation, the Licking River had flooded just one week before the scheduled barge delivery. The river landing had no securement points, while the site itself was still obstructed by scrap iron left from a previous bridge salvage operation. The flooding had also left significant mud and compromised the existing site conditions.
Scope of Work:
Each 347,500-pound transformer was moved onto 10 lines of SPMT before being positioned beneath PSC's 700-ton hydraulic gantry.
The transformers were then transloaded onto heavy-haul OTR trailers for the 67-mile journey from Wilder, Kentucky, to Trenton, Ohio.
Once at the Trenton destination, PSC deployed its 900-ton hydraulic gantry to transfer each transformer back onto 10 lines of SPMT.
The transformers were then transported approximately one-half mile into their final position, where they were prepared for jack-and-slide installation onto the foundation pad.
Key Challenges & Solutions:
The project demanded more than heavy equipment, it required rapid planning, site preparation, coordination, and the ability to adapt to changing conditions.
PSC mobilized quickly and brought in RJ Corman Rail Services, which provided two 80,000-pound dozers equipped with rear-drive winches to help secure the barge to the riverbank.
At the same time, the PSC team played an active role in preparing the landing area. Crews removed remaining scrap iron, cleared the river landing, scraped away flood-related mud, and performed the necessary site improvements.
Fresh stone was installed, rolled, and compacted. Swamp mats and steel plates were then used to create an elevated transition radius, allowing the SPMT to safely move from the barge onto land.
With the landing area stabilized, PSC proceeded with the transformer transloading operation.
Equipment Utilized:
The operation utilized a significant combination of PSC's heavy-lift and specialized transportation equipment, including:
- 700-ton hydraulic gantry
- 900-ton hydraulic gantry
- 20 lines of SPMT
- Two 100-ton hydraulic cranes for gantry assembly and support operations
- Two 12,000-pound telehandlers
- Four 6-inch high-volume water pumps for ballast control
- Two 80,000-pound dozers with rear-drive winches supplied by RJ Corman Rail Services
- Swamp mats and steel plates for site stabilization