Collett Completes Delivery And Installation Of 202 Tonne Transformer At Brinsworth National Grid Substation

Collett has successfully completed the transport and installation of a 202 Tonne Hyosung transformer from Goole West Dock to Brinsworth National Grid Substation in South Yorkshire.

The project formed part of ongoing works at the National Grid site and involved close coordination between Collett’s heavy transport and engineering teams, Hyosung and National Grid, alongside support from South Yorkshire Police for the road transport phase.

The transformer was received at Goole West Dock and discharged directly into Collett’s 350Te Scheuerle girder frame trailer configuration utilising 20 axle lines. Once secured in the transport system, the transformer was transported 36 miles to Brinsworth Substation. The complete transport combination measured 67 metres overall length, with a gross weight of 410 Tonnes.

Extensive enabling works were completed prior to delivery to facilitate the abnormal load movement and installation within a constrained site environment. These works included site access modifications, road widening, temporary removal of fencing and street furniture and improvements to services access to avoid the Howarth Lane tunnel. Ground preparation works also included full matting around the bund area to reduce ground bearing pressures during offloading operations, supported by detailed engineering design, lift plans and ground bearing calculations.

On arrival at site, Collett’s heavy lift team carried out a complex offloading and positioning sequence. The transformer was initially discharged onto steel stools before being jacked down onto a turntable and rotated to suit the restricted working area. It was then jacked up onto skid tracks for the first stage of movement, travelling 14 metres, before being repositioned for a second perpendicular skidding stage of 32 metres into its final installed position on the plinth.

The installation required precise multi-stage jacking and skidding operations within a confined working footprint, with the orientation change and two-directional movement proving critical to achieving the final alignment within site constraints. The project was completed over a tight programme, with whole project being completed over a 6-day period.

This delivery adds to Collett’s ongoing work within the power transmission and distribution sector, supporting critical infrastructure projects across the UK in partnership with key stakeholders including National Grid and Hyosung.