CRITICAL BACKUP GENERATORS HAULED BY BARNHART

Barnhart crews from the Memphis branch recently transported two 310,00 natural gas-fired generators to a substation in Tallahassee. The substation serves critical customers including Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare and the Tallahassee Police Department, and the move was part of continued efforts to enhance electric reliability.

The generators arrived by rail and, due to their size, were moved one at a time. Barnhart used a GS-800 transporter, which was over 300 feet long with 12 axles. Since the load had to be moved through normally busy downtown Tallahassee and the college district, the generators were moved overnight to minimize traffic impact. Crews accompanied the transport to raise utility lines and trim tree limbs along the delivery route. One reason the GS-800 was chosen for the job was because its low clearance enabled the transporter to get around live oak trees, which could not be trimmed.

The first haul took 12 hours to complete as crews became familiar with the route and its challenges. The second generator was hauled a week later in a trip that only took six hours.

Once construction of the substation is completed this summer, the two generators will produce a total of 20 MW of power, more than enough to serve critical customers and the surrounding area as needed, particularly during hurricanes and other storms.

View a video of the project, courtesy of the City of Tallahassee.