by Freddy
scotty269 wrote:Some comments from "unnamed" sources - http://www.philly.com/philly/news/break ... lment.htmlInteresting write-up and more detailed than I expected. I was a bridgetender from Jan.75 till Nov.76 on the same type of brodge in Florida after I got rolled of the section in Waverly Ga.
On top are 'lift rails', 2 on each end of course, that lift up. Down below are what's called 'wedges' , 2 on each end, that have to withdraw in order for the span to basically unlock and then
turn. To lock back in place it's basically like this; Span turns back from open position to closed. Down below the 'wedges' are motor driven into their 'seats'. After that, up top, the 'lift rails'
are motor driven down into their 'seats'. After all that the signal circuit controller is closed which should then give a Green signal if everything has worked correctly. The wedges keep the span
from shifting and in place. The only inspection a conductor can do is to look at the 'lift rails' up top and make sure their down and in place. There's no way anybody can see what position the
wedges are in unless their under the span to physically see the wedges.