Collett & Sons has successfully transported and installed a 198-metric-ton transformer from Heysham Port to Gretna Grid Stability Facility in Scotland. The UK-based heavy transport specialist managed the complex logistics of the oversized load, ensuring a safe and efficient delivery.

The journey, spanning 88 miles, involved navigating motorway contraflows, police-escorted movements, and structural load assessments. The 10.2m-long, 3.7m-wide, and 4.8m-high transformer was initially stored at Heysham Port before being loaded onto a 24-axle, 350-tonne capacity Scheuerle girder bridge trailer for transport.

With escort support from Lancashire Police and later Cumbria Police, the convoy overcame key challenges, including bypassing a weak bridge structure. Upon reaching Longtown, the transformer was transferred onto a 16-axle Self-Propelled Modular Transporter (SPMT) for the final leg to Gretna, where road conditions were unsuitable for the girder bridge trailer.

Meticulous planning by Collett & Sons’ project team ensured the successful execution of the operation. Preparations included obtaining permits, route surveys, tree trimming, and a structural analysis of two 19th-century bridges to verify load capacity.

At the facility, the transformer was carefully positioned onto its concrete foundation using precision jacking and skidding techniques. The installation is part of a wider effort to support National Grid ESO’s Stability Pathfinder initiative, helping to stabilize the electricity grid as it transitions toward renewable energy.

Eric Crosby, Projects Director at Collett & Sons, praised the team’s expertise and thanked the police and local authorities for their support.

This milestone follows the earlier transportation of a 234-tonne stator to the facility, further reinforcing its role in providing critical grid stability services.