procedure for Main Transformer Transportation

• How heavy is it?
• What are its overall dimensions?
• What is the intended route?
• What are the gradients?
• What are the obstacles: bridges? Tunnels? Railway level crossings? Overhead cables and voltages? Distance between buildings? Road construction standards?
• Has anything similar travelled this route previously? Who did it? Can their brains be picked?
• Could it go by rail instead?
• If the trafo oil were to spill during the trip, what would be the consequences?
• Who are the haulage specialists in the district that specialise in this type of transport?
• What are their telephone numbers?

I think that in addition to the points made in PWSlack' post you may find this http://tdworld.com/substations/power_barely_transportable_becomes/ interesting reading.

I have been involved in moving heavy equipment in the past and am always amazed at the ingenuity of the people involved. I am also amazed at the simplistic problems that can cause major damage if not considered beforehand.

In one instance the Navy was moving some assembled propulsion gears from the factory to a storage site awaiting installation, they intended to move at least ten of these gears. The gears were 120 tons in weight, I don't remember the dimensions but height and width were the key factors. The representative from the trucking company told me that they spent six months resolving a route and had to purchase a 96 wheel truck to complete the moves. An interesting part of this move was that at the destination the gears were off loaded using air pallets.

As far as removing the oil, from a shipping perspective it comes down to weight and containment. My first thought when shipping anything is to get the weight as low as possible from the start. If the weight can be handled without difficulty then I try to make the containment equal to sustaining a puncture or a tip-over of the casing, shell etc. Also when shipping liquids it adds the problem of a moving center of gravity.

I would think that the bushings will probably add height to the load. I think that 13' 6" is the standard shipping height in the states and something like 4 meters across the ocean. Some of those large trucks with hydraulic lifts can be arranged with two sets of wheels and a box girder in the middle, you can then land the transformer in the box and get the center lower than you can with a low boy. Also since the beds can be hydraulically raised or lowered you can deal with individual situations.

I would try to use a barge if possible to reduce the inherent overhead problems of a truck, If this were not possible I would try to use the rails. Rail roads have their own problems but less than a truck. If you use the rails be prepared to prep the grounds where you set up your crane and truck.

If you own both ends of the move getting information about the infrastructure where you have to make your lift shouldn't be a problem. If there is another party involved such as a municipality or factory etc. you are going to have a hard time getting people interested in digging up plans and such to tell you where the gas lines etc are run under your lift. Get a good understanding of who is going to supply what before you are tying up large expensive crane/s.