Truck, escorts move slowly through town

A rig hauling a huge power transformer made its way through Odessa on SR21 Tuesday. Escorted by the Washington State Patrol and another vehicle carrying flaggers, the rig was carrying the transformer from the site of its manufacture in Pocatello, Idaho to Wenatchee, presumably for installation at a power plant somewhere in the area. A second transformer will make the trip at about the same time next week, one of the truck drivers said.

The rig supporting the transformer was designed to distribute its weight evenly over the superstructure. The transformer rested on two platforms, one at either end, and was additionally attached to the superstructure using heavy-duty chains. Two tractor vehicles were attached to either end of the trailer, one pulling the trailer, the other pushing if needed (for steep climbs, for example).