China News Service, Guangzhou, January 29th: Railway bridge workers: busy with maintenance of "flying over eaves and walking over walls"
Author Guo Jun, Cheng Sijia and Zhou Jian
On January 28, the third day of Spring Festival travel, a cold wind blew on the Xijiang Bridge on the Guangmao Line. Six bridge workers in the Zhaoqing Bridge Inspection Area of the Zhaoqing Public Works Section climbed steel beams, drilled into the "bridge belly", went under the bridge, and "flyed over the eaves and walls" to conduct a "physical examination" of the bridge.
The Xijiang Super Bridge is 1,631 meters long and is a road-rail bridge. During the Spring Festival travel period, workers in the work area visited the bridge more frequently for inspections. Every half month, they need to conduct a comprehensive inspection of 1,980 sleepers, guard bolts, 3,960 hook bolts and 12 supports on the bridge.
Check the bridge supports. Photo by Zhou Jian
"Bang bang bang..." The sound of the collision of inspection hammers and bolts continued to be heard from the bridge deck. Everyone listened carefully to the knocking sound and carefully analyzed the status of the equipment.
"There is a problem here!" Li Kaidian, a bridge worker, has already developed a good ear for "listening to identify injuries" during daily inspections. He knelt down on one knee, screwed the bolt hook with his hand, and carefully wiped off the dust on the surface. After confirming that there was no damage or cracks in the whole thing, he breathed a sigh of relief, turned around, took out the socket wrench, and tightened the nut.
"When there is a train passing by on the bridge, you have to get off the bridge in time, so this job requires speed and accuracy." Li Kaidian wiped the sweat from the tip of his nose, leaned over and continued to hammer the next bolt.
"Compared with the bridge deck, inspection on steel beams is more difficult." Foreman Wang Junjie said, "Climbing the beam requires overcoming the fear of heights. It burns the buttocks in summer and freezes bones in winter. It is necessary to check for diseases on steel beams nearly 10 meters high. It’s a technical job.”
Check the steel beams. Photo by Zhou Jian
Wang Junjie and his co-workers climbed up the inspection ladder above the bridge deck. After confirming that the safety rope was tied, he hugged the leaning column on the side with both hands and slid down to the steel beam below with his arm strength. The biting coldness of the steel surface came. Wang Junjie sat astride the steel beam, half-hunched his back, and slowly crawled towards the central checkpoint.
"There are cracks at the connection between longitudinal beams and cross beams." Wang Junjie grasped the steel beam beside him with one hand and held a steel ruler in the other hand to determine the crack situation, take photos, and make marks. 10 years of work experience have trained him to have a "fierce eye" for discovering diseases. ".
"Inspection of the bottom of the bridge is even more of a challenge. Sitting in a hand-cranked cart is like sitting in a cradle, and my heart is shaking when it is suspended in mid-air." During the inspection, Wang Junjie and his workers had to climb over the guardrail, step on the steel beam, drill into the bottom of the railway bridge and hang Inspection hand crank car.
Only two ends of the hand trolley are connected to the bottom of the railway bridge, and the transmission gears on both sides need to be manually driven to move forward. The wind blew across the river, and the hand-cranked cart swayed. The gears at both ends made a "creak" sound. The river was rushing more than ten meters below our feet. After a while, the cold wind blew everyone's cheeks and ears red. Everyone ignored the rubbing and continued to hold the tools in one hand and hold on to the railing with the other, watching, listening, and touching...
When inspecting the bridge supports, everyone needs to use their hands and feet to climb into the gap between the piers and abutments, which is nearly 20 meters above the river.
Bridge workers in the Zhaoqing Bridge Inspection Area of the Zhaoqing Public Works Section are performing maintenance operations. Photo by Zhou Jian
"Woo...", a train passed by above the bridge, and the sound of wheels hitting the rails repeatedly hit everyone's eardrums. "For ten years, every time I go back after overhauling the support, my ears are still buzzing all night long." Wang Junjie said with a wry smile on his face.
"The river wind in winter is like a knife, and in summer the gaps between the piers and platforms are like steamers, but everyone never complains about suffering. Eating bread on the bridge is said to be a luxurious seat with a river view." Wang Junjie joked. In order to save time, they spent lunch on the bridge during maintenance.
"Come and take a photo to show my daughter what the bridge his father is guarding looks like!" Wang Junjie has been unable to go home for the New Year for five consecutive years because of his duty. In the photo, he and his co-workers are smiling brightly. (over)