200,000-pound load makes its way from Batavia to canal in Albion

Photos by Tom Rivers

ALBION – A caravan of vehicles escort an oversize load down Gaines Basin Road in Albion this morning.

The 195,500-pound condenser was manufactured by Graham Corp. in Batavia and started is journey around 5 a.m. today. It reached the Erie Canal in Albion around 10 a.m.

It will be transported east to its destination at the Navy. This is at least the third condenser made by Graham that will be shipped by the canal for the Navy.

Previous trips went to Albany, then down the Hudson River to New York Harbor. From there the condensers have moved to an ocean-going-barge for the trip to the Naval Submarine Base New London in Groton, Connecticut.

The oversize load heads north on Gaines Basin Road, getting close to the Countyhouse Road intersection.

The permitted route of travel started on Harvester Avenue in the city of Batavia, proceeded west on Route 5 to north on Route 98. Then it was west on Route 31A to north on Gaines Basin Road to east on Albion-Eagle Harbor Road in Albion.

There were about 15 bucket trucks in the caravan with people holding wires high for the big load.

The load had an escort by the State Police and other officials. Here it is shown going north on Gaines Basin Road, past Countyhouse Road.

Many onlookers came out to see the dispenser get lifted by two huge cranes onto a barge in the canal. Ellie Quatro brought her three sons to see the big machinery. Two of the sons are home-schooled.

They also saw the cranes in action two years ago when Graham made a similar-size delivery to the canal for the Navy.

The cranes, barge and big tugboat are ready to receive the heavy load.

Graham also had similar loads on the canal on May 22, 2022 and then another Sept. 27, 2023.

The load on the barge will be pushed by the tugboat Edna A., which is owned by the New York State Marine Highway Transportation Company of Troy.

Many people gathered on both sides of the canal to see the heavy equipment in action. The Gaines Basin Road bridge is in the background.