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According to what I'm hearing, the 880 ton Schnabel Car broke and the RPV was dropped? It is estimated that it will be mid or late January before they can get 3 heavy lift cranes (160 ton) positioned into the area to lift the vessel (349 tons). Doosan (Korean RPV manufacturer) is sending specialist/equipment to perform detailed inspections of the vessel to ensure no damage to flanges or welded seams. I'm hearing the inspection could take several months to complete. Plus a root cause analysis is being performed for the NRC at this time? We are being told that the 1000 ton Schabel Car currently assigned to VC Summer, will be sent to Vogtle after the cranes are in place.

http://chronicle.augusta.com/n...avannah-burke-county

 

A 300-ton reactor vessel bound for Plant Vogtle was stranded briefly in south Georgia this week after a malfunction with the specially designed rail car moving the nuclear component from Savannah to Burke County.

 

“The platform that contained the RV (reactor vessel) during transport became misaligned with the Schnabel railcar, so the railcar stopped immediately,” said Georgia Power Co. spokesman Mark Williams. “The platform and car were realigned the same day and safely returned to the port.”  

 

The Schnabel railcar, which features extra axles that help distribute and support the weight of heavy objects, did not break, he said. Georgia Power officials said the malfunction occurred less than a mile from the port of Savannah.

I'm glad to know that we can still trust the integrity of the Schnabel car.  

 

This reminds me of a trip I made back in the early 1970's, when I was a boy Engineer.  We left San Bernardino for San Clemente with a pair of GP30's, pulling the Schnabel, which was holding a large electrical component for the nuclear power plant.  The maximum allowable speed was 30 MPH, with several inspection stops and walking passage aver a couple of through girder bridges.  We had to clear 2 passenger trains and 2 freights, which is an event when you have a load like that.  We held the main track at every meet.    It took most of the hours of service time to get to San Clemente.  We were just going to be able to deliver the car to the unloading spot, but the operator shifted the car too far on a curve inside the plant, and tipped it over at a 45 degree angle.  That's where we died.  The Roadmaster gave us a ride to Capistrano, where we deadheaded to Los Angeles on No. 77, and then made a connection and continued the deadhead to San Bernardino on No. 4.  I don't know how long it took to upright and deliver the equipment at San Clemente, but, after a pretty rough trip, I sure did enjoy a good meal in the dining car while others were standing out in the cold coastal air with the Schnabel.

Last edited by Number 90
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