Piling Gang Rest & Recuperation Day
by: David M.
Here are some additional pictures of last Tuesday’s movement of Samson.
A busy day for the tug team and piling team on Tuesday, moving the work barge Samson down from below Wallbridge to Ebley, and the mud hoppers through Wallbridge down through Dudbridge locks.
The hoppers were lightened to reduce their draft. They just fit together in the locks and are pulled in abreast, but have to be taken out line astern to get past the opening lower lock gate.
Roping by the cross beams is an acquired skill. It can also be done by one person, but this requires press-ups and is rarely seen.
There are some underwater obstructions just below Lower Wallbridge, but once clear got over the sewer pipe no problem.
Getting Samson over the Chestnut Lane gas pipe needed a trip back to Wallbridge to empty the lock and send down a mini-tidal wave. They are still looking for Samson somewhere downstream . . .
In fact it got through the lift bridges OK and through Dudbridge locks, a tight squeeze getting out of the lower lock, man-hauled all the way so far. It was then then collected by the tug and taken down to Ebley, to push in some sheet piles to plug a leak.