utc point2point newsletter november 2014 · [email protected] +1-713-869-9939 the utc...
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The UTC Overseas Rail Team recently transported three massive double-walled storage tanks from the upper Midwest to the U.S. Gulf for delivery to an overseas liquid natural gas facility. The tanks, each 125 feet long, 12.5 feet wide and 14 feet high, weigh over 115 tons and have a volume of up to 272 cubic meters (nearly 72,000 gallons.)
According to Matt Fielder, Project Manager with UTC’s Rail Projects section in Houston, moving the huge units required special equipment, preparation and attention to detail. “Our first task was leasing six 8-axle flatbed cars, each 74 feet long, to carry the three tanks. Given the unique nature of the cargo and the need to safely and quickly transport it to the Gulf, we worked
with the Union Pacific to assure that the tanks would move together as a ‘special’ train, assuring that the loads would not be separated from each other or recoupled to different locomotives en route.
“The next challenge was loading. Because of their extreme length, we used pairs of railcars for each tank. A single bolster plate with a center slot was welded near the center of each rail car. The cradles holding each end of the tank had a second bolster plate welded to them with a downward facing pin that fit into the slotted bottom plates on the cars. Lubricating the plates allowed each end of the load, on its own car, to twist in place as the train moved around curves.”
MOVING A VERY LOOOOONG LOAD
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To deliver three massive tanks, UTC used bolster plates from its own specialized rail equipment inventory. The plates connect two railcars while allowing them to pivot around turns.
MORE ON THIS PROJECT:
UTC also moved five oversized LNG plant manifold assemblies by rail for this same project.
Get the full story in our one-page UTC Project
Brief. www.utcoverseas.com/pdfs/briefs/PB_LNG_Manifolds.pdf
For more photos of this project visit our Project Gallery at: www.utcoverseas.com/pdfs/galleries/
November 2014 Volume 3, Issue 7
Point2Point Newsletter 1
RAIL TRIVIAQuestion: When and where was America’s first transcontinental rail completed?Answer: With Union Pacific building west and Central Pacific laying track to the east, the two railroads met May 10, 1869, at Promontory Summit, Utah, completing America’s first transcontinental railroad.
UTC safely transports massive double-walled storage tanks from the upper Midwest to
the U.S. Gulf coast.
(The bolster plates are part of UTC’s own specialized rail equipment inventory. For more information see the February 2014 Point2Point http://www.utcoverseas.com/news/February2014.pdf)
“The final hurdle was assembling the train. Because the rail siding available was small, we could only bring in two cars at a time and load one of the tanks. To deal with those limits, we worked with the railroad to create a separate staging area, and moved each of the single tank/two-car units there once they were loaded. We then “built” the special train of three tanks and six cars for the journey to the Gulf.”
Fielder explained that the ‘special train’ designation enabled UTC to send along a designated “Rail Rider” – a private con-
tractor who worked with the train crew to assure the cargo was handled very carefully and with low acceleration and deceleration forces. “This risk mitigation process was undertaken to reduce the potential for impacts and possible damage to the massive but delicate tank structures as they sat suspended between cars.”
With expedited scheduling, the units were safely delivered from the Midwest manufac-turer in to the pier in Houston in just seven days from the special train departure, and loaded directly from rail to vessel for export.
MOVING A VERY LOOOOONG LOAD (continued)
Tel.+1-713-869-9939Turnkey Project Services Worldwide
COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP: UTC Executive VP Marco Poisler (R) is actively involved as a volun-teer in the Boy Scouting program in Houston. He recently invited U.S.Congressman Kevin Brady (TX-8) (L) Chair of the House Joint Eco-nomic Committee, to address local Scouts on the principles of leadership and the importance of civic involvement and citizenship.
Join UTC OverseasDec. 9-11, 2014Power Gen AmericasBooth #1465Orange County Convention CenterOrlando, FLwww.power-gen.com
Point2Point Newsletter 2
November 2014, Volume 3, Issue 7