http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/de...?newsfeed=true

Quote:
"...a German contraption measuring 140 metres (460ft) in length,
designed to drive into the very core of the City within months... the
starring role belongs to the machines in the small town of Schwanau, in
the south-western state of Baden Württemberg, at the growing global
headquarters of Herrenknecht, which is prospering as the manufacturer of
more than half of such monsters worldwide.

Eight of these £10m moles have been commissioned for the 13 miles of
tunnel: six designed to cope with the London clay from Royal Oak in
Paddington in the west, and two for the chalk in the eastern stretch
down to Woolwich."

I assume that the TBM is another British invention that's no longer made
in this country?

On Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:46:50 -0000, "Recliner"
wrote:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/dec/13/crossrail-unveils-machines-from-germany?newsfeed=true
Quote:
"...a German contraption measuring 140 metres (460ft) in length,
designed to drive into the very core of the City within months... the
starring role belongs to the machines in the small town of Schwanau, in
the south-western state of Baden Württemberg, at the growing global
headquarters of Herrenknecht, which is prospering as the manufacturer of
more than half of such monsters worldwide.

Eight of these £10m moles have been commissioned for the 13 miles of
tunnel: six designed to cope with the London clay from Royal Oak in
Paddington in the west, and two for the chalk in the eastern stretch
down to Woolwich."

I assume that the TBM is another British invention that's no longer made
in this country?


Sadly, yes. It was yet another British industry that concentrated on
the UK and Commonwealth market. When the Commonwealth could buy
elsewhere, it did, and the UK market wasn't enough to support the
induatry.

The Germans and Japanese sold worldwide. Any peaks and troughs in
demand in their home markets were usually compensated by demand
elsewhere. Steady sales and profits meant that the Germans and
Japanesey could invest in new technology, and the most sophisticated
tunnelling machines (used in difficult and complex ground conditions)
always came from outside the UK.

On Thu, 15 Dec 2011 18:16:48 +0100
Bruce wrote:
On Thu, 15 Dec 2011 11:46:50 -0000, "Recliner"
wrote:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/de...nes-from-germa
y?newsfeed=true
Quote:
"...a German contraption measuring 140 metres (460ft) in length,
designed to drive into the very core of the City within months... the
starring role belongs to the machines in the small town of Schwanau, in
the south-western state of Baden Württemberg, at the growing global
headquarters of Herrenknecht, which is prospering as the manufacturer of
more than half of such monsters worldwide.

Eight of these £10m moles have been commissioned for the 13 miles of
tunnel: six designed to cope with the London clay from Royal Oak in
Paddington in the west, and two for the chalk in the eastern stretch
down to Woolwich."

I assume that the TBM is another British invention that's no longer made
in this country?


Sadly, yes. It was yet another British industry that concentrated on
the UK and Commonwealth market. When the Commonwealth could buy
elsewhere, it did, and the UK market wasn't enough to support the
induatry.

I saw on the local news last night that the TBM thats just arrived is for
the thames water tunnel, not crossrail. I would have imagined the crossrail
ones would already be working wouldn't they?

B2003

In message , at 09:47:57 on Fri, 16 Dec
2011, d remarked:
"...a German contraption measuring 140 metres (460ft) in length,
designed to drive into the very core of the City within months... the
starring role belongs to the machines in the small town of Schwanau, in
the south-western state of Baden Württemberg, at the growing global
headquarters of Herrenknecht, which is prospering as the manufacturer of
more than half of such monsters worldwide.

Eight of these £10m moles have been commissioned for the 13 miles of
tunnel: six designed to cope with the London clay from Royal Oak in
Paddington in the west, and two for the chalk in the eastern stretch
down to Woolwich."

I assume that the TBM is another British invention that's no longer made
in this country?

Sadly, yes. It was yet another British industry that concentrated on
the UK and Commonwealth market. When the Commonwealth could buy
elsewhere, it did, and the UK market wasn't enough to support the
induatry.

I saw on the local news last night that the TBM thats just arrived is for
the thames water tunnel, not crossrail. I would have imagined the crossrail
ones would already be working wouldn't they?

The ones in the news this week (which are still to be delivered) are for
Crossrail:

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/pres...tunnelling-to-
start-in-less-than-100-days-as-first-tunnel-boring-machine-unveiled
--
Roland Perry

On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:37:14 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/pres...tunnelling-to-
start-in-less-than-100-days-as-first-tunnel-boring-machine-unveiled

Hmm , completion date in 2018 and no tunnelling even started? I won't hold
my breath for them to meet it then. The JLE took 6 years and thats about a 3rd
the size of this project.

B2003

In message , at 10:55:26 on Fri, 16 Dec
2011, d remarked:

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/pres...tunnelling-to-
start-in-less-than-100-days-as-first-tunnel-boring-machine-unveiled

Hmm , completion date in 2018 and no tunnelling even started? I won't hold
my breath for them to meet it then. The JLE took 6 years and thats about a 3rd
the size of this project.

There are eight TBMs (working from four sites) and a lot of preparatory
work has already taken place.
--
Roland Perry

On Fri, 16 Dec 2011 12:10:15 +0000
Roland Perry wrote:
In message , at 10:55:26 on Fri, 16 Dec
2011, d remarked:

http://www.crossrail.co.uk/news/pres...tunnelling-to-
start-in-less-than-100-days-as-first-tunnel-boring-machine-unveiled

Hmm , completion date in 2018 and no tunnelling even started? I won't hold
my breath for them to meet it then. The JLE took 6 years and thats about a 3rd
the size of this project.

There are eight TBMs (working from four sites) and a lot of preparatory
work has already taken place.

Fair enough. I wonder how much cable and other equipment will "disappear"
during construction like it did with the JLE.

B2003