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And, FYI, when that Schnabel car moves loaded, it will travel in a special movement (reduced speed and clearances!) with several other cars containing the hardware. This would include the bushings (that's the big porcelain "squiggly" things that stick up off top of the transformer--they contain the high voltage conductors that enter the transformer and connect to the overhead transmission lines and busbars--and they can be over 10' long and weigh more than a ton) as well as all the instrument transformers (a transformer this big has other transformers that go with it), and sometimes the external oil pump hardware, radiators, fans, meters and other items that would be damaged in transit if they were mounted. The transformer body itself contains the electrical windings and the internal cooling pipes-these things can get awfully hot-and is generally stripped clean for transit. This allows somewhat tighter clearances and reduces the transit weight of the suspended unit. The Schnabel car basically is a bridge on wheels, where the unit being transported becomes part of the structure of the car for the duration of the trip. One of the considerations in designing a large power transformer or generator is sizing the body so it will fit on the Schnabel car or on a 24-40 axle lo-boy truck (basically a Schnabel car on tires for the larger units, or just a lo-boy for the very small ones) and make the clearances. It's field-assembled on site after it arrives. The Schnabels are also used for transporting generators. Unlike transformers, which are generally cubical, these loads would be long and predominately cylindrical. The length of the cargo determines the minimum safe radius, and the hydraulics on the car are used to reduce that over what would otherwise restrict operation of the car. And, yes, Ed's right as usual, it's incredibly impressive when they start jockeying one of these things around. Several Schnabels are based up in Schenectady NY at GE, and the other manufacturers also have them or have them available. By the way, unlike what some model manufacturers have done in the past, a large power transformer would NEVER be transported any distance with the bushings and other peripherals installed. Not only does it reduce clearances, but the bushings and instrument transformers are easily damaged and are designed and tested to withstand in some cases over a million volts! Crack or break one and it's a VERY large expense claim. A typical train would consist of a locomotive unit (usually 1 will suffice), several carloads of peripheral equipment usually sandwiching the Schnabel, and a car or cars for attendants and transport personnel (usually a pax car or a couple of cabeese). The Schnabel is manned while it is moving, and there may be a pilot unit or hirail ahead of the train scouting for hazards and clearance issues that might have developed immediately before the train is scheduled to pass. The entire route, including meets (you must have adequate side clearance and enough notice for the Schnabel crew to swing the load away from the passing train--embarrassing if the meet point happens to be adjacent to an overpass abutment, building or other structure and clearance is impaired where you can't swing the load) is mapped out well in advance with the RRs to be used based on traffic and clearances--these are generally already established on the main lines, as there is a national clearance database consulted before the movement is planned. As you can probably guess, these guys rarely, if ever, see the inside of a tunnel. Moving one of these big loads is like moving the President. I hope that this has provided some additional useful information for all of you. If you ever get the opportunity to see one of these movements, it will be well worth your time. Oh, Ed, speaking of 40-axle lo-boys, did you happen to be at PTRA about 10-15 years ago and go over and watch when UTDC & GM Canada moved an F59 and a bi-level from the Belt over to the George Brown Convention Center on the city streets for the APTA national convention? It was quite impressive and not unlike moving one of these big transformers.[8D]
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