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Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Fri Jul 08, 2016 9:52 pm
by Cx5
Its a job to decide which thread to post under so having successfully spelt miscellaneous, here's a selection of photographs that have sat on a hard disc and need to be aired. Nothing that old just plant seen in different place that you as enthusiasts might know a lot more about than I do as a casual observer of most things mechanical.
First up are a few pictures taken at Horner's sale at Bromham, Bedfordshire in May 2011. A remarkable collection of farm machinery and plant not just one of everything but several examples of the same machine or implement including muck spreaders. A very interesting sale. I haven't attempted to identify individual machines.
Bedford sale 088.JPG
Bedford sale 025.JPG
Bedford sale 088.JPG
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Wed Jul 13, 2016 2:41 pm
by Cx5
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 12:31 pm
by Cx5
Some photographs of a water tower in the Bedfordshire countryside at what was Thurleigh airfield. It has many different names now. More importantly to the plant enthusiast is the fact that in 1952 Kier Construction dragged the water tower 810' to its present location. Having been built in 1935 it was for whatever reason in the wrong place for future site development. I think a monster wind tunnel was built for the Aircraft Research Establishment.
The key to this post is that there
are photos recording the move which featured in a construction weekly news paper that had something to do with the SED show. This was before broadband and CMN.
I saw the photographs and went to find the tower which luckily was by the roadside and easy to see the unusual construction of its base and most revealing of all were the plaques fixed to the tower describing the move.
The move required long concrete running beams, grease, explosives, and some heavy plant to winch the thing.
If anybody has greater powers of detecting pictures on the internet or can add detail to this subject then I think we would all be much wiser
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Thu Jul 14, 2016 1:57 pm
by Jeremy Rowland
All good stuff Michael I would have thought that somebody somewhere must have photos of this tower being moved?
Jeremy
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 3:40 am
by Mrsmackpaul
the digging in the mud looks like a messy job a bit different than dry types of jobs Im used to
And how good is that water tower shift someone somewhere will have the full story
Paul
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Fri Jul 15, 2016 1:27 pm
by Cx5
Jeremy, PaulThanks for the comments.
The photographs that spurred me to find out about the water tower appeared in the Contract Journal, published by Reed. This would have been sometime in 2010. The publication ceased probably following a decline in the construction industry along with the demise of the SED Show.
I'm hoping that someone who knows how to fish around media outlets and photographic collections will stumble on some detail.
Meanwhile googling brings up some details including the following text.
The water tower is clearly visible right next to the perimeter fence and you can easily snap a photograph of it. The Wind Tunnels on the site are now used by a Formula One Racing Team for testing their cars. A mile up the road is the old Thurleigh Airfield which is now a business and technology park and houses the Jonathan Palmer racing school and circuit.
In 1952 the complete water tower was moved to accommodate a new wind tunnel. Originally the tower was going to be demolished and a new one erected costing £30,000. To save money J.L. Kier and Company (London) Ltd stated that they could move the tower at half the cost. The 1,800 ton, 79 feet tall and 53 feet wide concrete tower was moved accordingly.
A new tower at Turvey (our Pictshill tower waymark) had to be built so that the water supply was uninterrupted, as the tower held 150,000 gallons of water. Milton Ernest water tower was then emptied, separated from its foundations with a blast and slid along some purpose built narrow roadways with channels resembling railway lines. Inside the channels were ball bearings to roll the tower along into its new position. The tower was towed along these roadways for 810 feet by a tractor at a rate of 50 feet per day.
The process of moving the tower was the first time this system had been used in Britain. This information is available in more detail in 'The Importance of Milton Ernest' book by David Newman. A unique local history book which was self published.This is copied from
http://WWW.Waymarking.com which as stated gleaned its information from "The importance of Milton Ernest" a book published about the locality.
The only historic photograph found so far appears here
http://mailpictures.newsprints.co.uk/view/19599374/elib_asscmmglpict000005142692_jpgMichael
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Mon Aug 01, 2016 10:42 pm
by Cx5
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 11:32 am
by Cx5
A calm rural scene in rural Leicestershire of a new barn and fresh ditch excavated using a Volvo machine,
If you turn around and face the other way especially in late March you are likely to see the world famous Bottle Kicking and Hare Pie Scramble. This takes place on Hare Pie Bank between Hallaton and Medbourne. A manic spectacle.
Outwardly it would appear to be a mass brawl, but in amongst the tight action group is a small wooden barrel that is supposed to be placed either in the Medbourne brook or the Top of Hare Pie Bank. Best of three, wins and much ale is consumed and very few rules apparently.
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 8:11 pm
by Mrsmackpaul
chaos in the bottom picture for sure , I cant seem to see the barrel may have something to do with all them people LOL
Paul
Re: Miscellaneous pictures
Posted: Sun Oct 16, 2016 10:23 pm
by Cx5
Paul
The guy with his backside almost showing has his arm wrapped around the barrel. If we're looking for tenuous links to plant and machinery operation then many of these guys are young farmers, builders, scaffolders all looking to prove themselves. The first aid guys ride around on Gators and Quad bikes. I think the ale numbs any pain by the end of the day.