The trailer, load and tractor unit weigh in excess of 100T and the trailer has hyd. steering rear axles. The trailer has sunk down on the O/S until the axles were on the ground. The wheels were on lock, forcing the trailer further into the embankment.
Previous attempts to move the vehicle with diggers etc had failed, and we were called to recover the vehicle.
We could not get alongside or behind the trailer, and the decision was made to set up sufficient winch power to move the vehicle forwards, allowing enough room to get the rotator alongside and remove the rear weights (15T each). The cables were doubled up and the load dissipated by shackles and chains etc onto the front towing point of the tractor unit. Fortunately, it was a heavy haulage tractor with substantial coupling at the front. A 22T machine was also used as a dead man to assist with anchorage.
The combination was winched forwards about 20ft, and it was evident that the steering on the rear axles was being forced round by the fact that the wheels were digging into the embankment. We had enough winch effort that we could have continued going forwards, but it would have resulted in the trailer being off the side of the track completely. The rotator was set up as planned and removed 30T from the rear of the trailer. It was then rigged to lift the trailer, allowing the hyd. steering to be manually controlled, straightening the wheels in the process. It was a simple task to move the vehicle forwards after this was done. The weights were reloaded and secured.
There were further problems with this combination and the two subsequent vehicles when they attempted to get up the slope that took them out of the site. The largest one weighed 150T. The rotator was set up to assist all vehicles, winching them individually until they could continue unassisted.
