Palace Fan
October 13th, 2006, 12:15
We finally got out again. After talking about recce'ing the site for a week, all we managed was a look at the crane from a distance...
After getting into the city, and taking a look around the site, we decided the best entry was a blindspot between two cameras. It was the usual ungraceful up and over a moderately high hording. This dropped us on the floor of a very well lit-up site, so it was a rush for cover. Not knowing where the security pound was, we proceeded with caution to the crane leg. There were two cranes, one running up a lift shaft the other external and exposed, so we choose the external one. On the base was a big sign containing SWL (weight limit), and the height, and staggering 94metres (no photo, but will be next time)!!
Then it was up, up, up, up, up....
The leg, had those rather unsettling split ladders, the first five rungs, bolted to the platform you're on (wobbly), and the next twenty odd connected to the platform above (anybody know why??), with some missing bolts and just tied together...
Once through the pivot we had plenty of room to move around. We had a look round the cab (stunk), moved up to the winching gear, then above loomed the double crows nest (seen on the sister crane in the photo). I made it up to the first crows nest, then went on up to the top nest (felt massively exposed, but f*cking awesome, looking straight down with nothing but the ladder your holding onto!!). Unfortunately whilst holding on one handed the hatch to the top nest didn't move to my liking and felt like it wasn't connected to its hinges. The last thing I wanted was heavy steel hatch falling 100metres. So it was down for more photos.
Half way down the leg theres a bridge to the main structure. We had a look around, and got a photo of the 'Plant' workings on top of the Lloyds building (massive photo potential).
We headed down the internal stair cases, taking it slowly and quietly. This bought us out where we started.....
Awesome crane, climb, and site. Next time we'll be up top on the steel work (top deck of the main structure).
One thing we noticed after 30mins up there, and whilst looking for the jib, was that it was missing!! The crane wasn't fully complete!! :thumb :D :thumb
I also had a friends (cheers Ad) Suunto altimeter on, which was showing 130metres, after being zeroed at the base, bit optimistic we reckon, but I'll try it again on our next outing.
After getting into the city, and taking a look around the site, we decided the best entry was a blindspot between two cameras. It was the usual ungraceful up and over a moderately high hording. This dropped us on the floor of a very well lit-up site, so it was a rush for cover. Not knowing where the security pound was, we proceeded with caution to the crane leg. There were two cranes, one running up a lift shaft the other external and exposed, so we choose the external one. On the base was a big sign containing SWL (weight limit), and the height, and staggering 94metres (no photo, but will be next time)!!
Then it was up, up, up, up, up....
The leg, had those rather unsettling split ladders, the first five rungs, bolted to the platform you're on (wobbly), and the next twenty odd connected to the platform above (anybody know why??), with some missing bolts and just tied together...
Once through the pivot we had plenty of room to move around. We had a look round the cab (stunk), moved up to the winching gear, then above loomed the double crows nest (seen on the sister crane in the photo). I made it up to the first crows nest, then went on up to the top nest (felt massively exposed, but f*cking awesome, looking straight down with nothing but the ladder your holding onto!!). Unfortunately whilst holding on one handed the hatch to the top nest didn't move to my liking and felt like it wasn't connected to its hinges. The last thing I wanted was heavy steel hatch falling 100metres. So it was down for more photos.
Half way down the leg theres a bridge to the main structure. We had a look around, and got a photo of the 'Plant' workings on top of the Lloyds building (massive photo potential).
We headed down the internal stair cases, taking it slowly and quietly. This bought us out where we started.....
Awesome crane, climb, and site. Next time we'll be up top on the steel work (top deck of the main structure).
One thing we noticed after 30mins up there, and whilst looking for the jib, was that it was missing!! The crane wasn't fully complete!! :thumb :D :thumb
I also had a friends (cheers Ad) Suunto altimeter on, which was showing 130metres, after being zeroed at the base, bit optimistic we reckon, but I'll try it again on our next outing.