Brunel's Other BridgeBrunel Swivel Bridge Project Photos May 2014
 Mostly pondering about the pintle of the Brunel Swivel Bridge this time and using our big spanner for the first time. |
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Work PHASE A Preparation and Basic Conservation by Volunteers
- Cleaning and painting rusty areas
- Unbolt and release the centre pintle casting
- Jack up Bridge a few inches
- Free up north tail wheel
- Release two rotation cables
- 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
Contact Maggie Shapland (Maggie.shapland@gmail.com) if you wish to help.
Details of progress in 2014 and working days.
Saturday 24 May 2014
The 2000kg chain hoists are both hooked in position to turn the spanner, Geoff making sure there is no play, Mike getting ready to use one of the hoists. Ian looking on. Heavy rain but our makeshift shelter worked well. |
Geoff tries heating from below, but 150 years of muck catches fire and blows down |
Some white metal drops down |
Geoff tries heating from above, aided by Ian Kerr |
When in doubt get your big hammer out but still no joy |
We then turned our attention to getting the pins out of the rope. Heat and large crowbar needed and a big hammer |
Getting there |
Rust on the turntable |
Having loosened the rope, Mike was able to get the 50 ton jack under the clevis pin |
More heat, more hammering |
Pin finally coming out |
Mike holding the pin and sleeve. Probably has never been removed before |
In the mean time, Ian and Geoff were getting on with the other pin |
This pin was even more worn |
The turntable is rusty |
The offending connection. Made a satisfying big bang when the pin was withdrawn |
Sunday 25 May 2014
Geoff worrying about the pintle. Lots of diagrams and measurements around. |
He gathers Mike Bone, Mike Taylor and Martyn Hart around to talk it through |
We have a group photo and decide to do something else. Big smiles all round |
Back to the hydraulic rams |
Wheel and rope in position. Note the channels full of water |
More heat needed |
Wherever we go we all have to work closely together, but there is more space than under the turntable! Note the rusty bolts in the foreground |
I think the bolts need replacing |
Maggie cleaning the rods |
Maggie then went on to clean the channels to try to get the water to drain away |
Never ending sea of mud but at least it is fairly loose |
Geoff and Martyn moved to another section of the hydraulics and again applied heat and hammers |
They got the cam to move |