Brunel's Other BridgeBrunel Swivel Bridge Project Photos August 2014
Sunny day with threatening rain clouds. Only worked on Saturday since Geoff had to get to a Boulton and Watt engine in Dundee next week!
New volunteer swims in to help during very high tide. Note the dock is not level- floods at the south end first |
The water rushes into the wheel pit very quickly once it gets upto the height of the dock wall. Water tops the bearing caps, being inspected by our volunteer who does not mind getting wet |
Page contents
Work PHASE A Preparation and Basic Conservation by Volunteers
- Cleaning and painting rusty areas (in progress)
- Unbolt and release the centre pintle casting (in progress)
- Jack up Bridge a few inches (in progress)
- Free up north tail wheel (done)
- Release two rotation cables (done)
- Lower bridge onto its pintle and track
- Free the pintle thread, rotate bridge a small amount and return to present position
- Locate and obtain copies of drawings and past reports. Write a conservation plan
- Seek letters of support
Details of progress in 2014 and working days.
Saturday 16 August 2014
We had lots of help, lots of interested visitors, and a visit from the Institute of Graduate Engineers who want to help.
Martyn measuring the thickness of various parts of the bridge, Geoff watching |
Bob does more measuring |
Geoff measures the height of the tail of the bridge on either side and decides that the bridge needs jacking more to keep it level |
Our new volunteer keeps a careful watch |
The turntable supports need more rust removing |
Graham and Ian have another go at chiseling the turntable support in preparation for painting (and Maggie) |
Maggie painting while Ian still chiselling |
Got some paint on without it raining |
Bob has used his engineering skills to draw a diagram of the foundations |
Josh (Geoff's nephew and Mike Bone start looking for the foundations |
Our new volunteer comes to help, but Mike not so sure |
Mike is digging even deeper |
Mike's look of delight as he finds the wooden foundations is clear, especially when they are still solid after all this time |
Just at this moment three graduate members of the Institute of Civil Engineers turn up. Geoff looks suitably serious |
The engineers all come and inspect as Mike leaves them to it with a big smile on his face |
Big discussion takes place with the engineers |
The graduates do some measuring too |
Our volunteer even creeps up on Geoff unknowingly |
Watching Josh do some jacking |
Our eager volunteer even tries to do some jacking when no one is looking |
We are fed up of people dumping litter and dog mess |
Mike Taylor makes some boards to stop the mess |