The Launching Truss

[mbrager]

There is a new Light Rail Transit line being built in Calgary called the West LRT. The section running from downtown to the second and third stations is elevated. See this animation WestLRT - Route Animation (http://www.westlrt.ca/contentabout/route_animation.cfm)
The construction involves placing concrete towers which are joined with trusses, upon which the track and power lines will be placed. The launching truss moves from tower to tower as a sort of mobile crane to launch the trusses in place. It's a very large piece of machinery that has been very visible on the city skyline since the start of the project. I've been wanting to photograph it and this weekend was the time. It's due to be dismantled in April when its work is done.

http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5020/5457561402_a65c7c2cdf_b.jpg
North View
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5297/5456956867_feb981f3f0_b.jpg
East View
http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5059/5459448425_c5bcc4d2cf_b.jpg
Northeast View

[QuietOne]

It's - bizarre looking. I keep thinking the towers have wheels on them, and the truss is just rolling them in place. Nice shots, even as busy as the second one is, the truss stands out.

[JAS_Photo]

Cool captures, Mike! Lol, I have just been calling it "The Contraption".

[Marko]

Nice set, i dig those lines in shot 3!

[Iguanasan]

Wow, that's quite the rig. Big machinery!

[Bambi]

cool, the perspective is neat in the second one!

[aubintbay]

Awesome set Mike!! I have to say that after the first shot showed the scale of things that second one just blew me away......what a contrast in scale. Very well done!! And then the third just adds to it!