Watson Triple Header

 Transport Watson of Beloeil, QC, the over size specialists are well known in Halifax as regular loaders of airplane componenents that arrive from Europe by ship. Their trucks had a distinctive red colour scheme with "Watson" in blue, but that has changed a bit in the last year or so since the company was taken over by QSL (Quebec Stevedoring Ltd). They are now just plain red, but even so are usually very clean looking.

Today there were three Watson trucks in Halifax and they were unsual in a couple of respects. First, and most obvious, was that they were Freightliner COEs - a rare sight these days as engine forward trucks are the norm. In fact Freightliner has not produced COEs, (called the Argosy model) officially, since 2020 and even then they sold only glider kits for North America. The customer had to supply and install the engine and drivetrain.

The second point was that the trucks were transporting long steel tubular shapes. I don't say pipes, because they may be structural components for wind turbine towers or some other use. Watson has often carried components to the cement plant in Port Daniel - Gascons, QC.

 

Leading the parade was Watson W6883 with two tubes on an extended flat deck.

The trucks had some nice features, including fairings over the fuel tanks and "low rise" roof.

Next was W6881:

A nearly identical unit, it had a different arrangement of clearance lights on the windshield visor. It was hauling two tubes as far as I could see. 

Third in line was W6884, with three tubes on its extended flatdeck.

I guess because they were not over wide, they were able to exit the Fairvew Cove container terminal and head straight for the highway, without pilot cars. With the COEs they were under the 75 foot length limit - hard to tell...

More Big Loads

 Lots of port related traffic today - March 28.

A small herd of Deeres left the area behind an Evangeline Transport Freightliner.

Next up were a couple of wide body aircraft fuselages from Ireland behind a pair of Watson trucks - one Kenworth and one Peterbilt. Watson is now part of QSL, and the trucks do not get the custom paint schemes they used to have - too bad.

 

 Bellemaire trucks still have the unique orange / yellow paint scheme. I never did get a clear shot of this Kenworth hauling a Sandvik mine truck.

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Watson Reunion - Part 2

The seond batch of Watson trucks is scheduled to leave after midnight tonight.
Consisting of six trucks (one is a Robert, 5 are Watson) they were conveniently lined up in a group and ready to roll.

left to right: Robert 102934, W3896, W 3862

left to right: W3897, W2885

W3898

There are still many truckloads of steel fabrications left on the pier, so I exepct at least a partial repeat of this operation agian next week.

Bonus

This is the east end of a westbound Robert:

The Robert trucks have a headache rack but no tool box, so are required to secure miscellaneous items to the frame.

Watson reunion - updated 2014-04-04

Ever since a large shipment of steel fabrications arrived by sea April 18 trucks from Transport Watson and Mills Heavy Hauling have been shuttling the loads to Port Daniel, QC for the McInnis cement plant that is under construction.
Up until now it has been a pair or two Watson trucks at a time:

Unit W3864 is a typical Watson Kenworth, with set-back front axle and low rise sleeper. (April 24)

W3900 features a gold stripe - something new for Watson. It also has a single stack and enclosed air cleaners. (April 24)

But today was a bonanaza with at least a dozen all getting ready to leave town after midnight when the width restrictions are lifted in town.

In addition to the usual KWs, there were also a Volvo with lowrise sleeper - number W3905

Parent company Robert also had a couple of their Volvos, not to mention an unusual International with Watson markings (W2892) on a blue background. Several other Watsons were lurking nearby including W2885 a white painted Kenworth.

There was also a service vehicle on hand, taking advantage of the wait to perfom maintenenace on several of the trucks.It is marked for parent company Robert, with Watson and Transport Rollex, Roberet's hazardous materials and waste division.


2014-04-04
The convoy did not roll out last night after all. They were still in place this morning, with some shuffling around.

W2885 is one of the white painted KWs in the fleet.

Most of the trucks are kitted out with a tool box/headache rack and sometimes a ladder too.

This evening the trucks connected up to their loads and at least some of them appeared to be getting ready to roll.

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One of each please, and a bonus

Lots of oversixe loads movbing off and on the piers inHalifax this week, but often under less than ideal lighting conditions.
At noon time today however, there were three Groupe Robert Volvos lined up at Fairview. Oddly all three were different.

One day cab in the centre, flanked by a low rise sleeper and a high rise sleeper. We don't see too many Robert trucks here, even though they are a very large Quebec company. However we do see Watson trucks (which is a division of Robert).

And that was the bonus, this dandy Watson KW. No 3878 has less chrome than its counterpart 3879 that has been here many times before.

Watson is the usual carrier for Bombardier aircraft components, and maybe Roberts were here for something else, but in view of the common ownership it is more likely they were here for fuselages too.

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Freightliner - Watson again

The Watsons are back again for more Bombardier parts. One Freightliner arrived early this evening, but it is likely that more will arrive over night. Last time they were here this unit was partially blocked from view,. so I will give it a posting all by itself.

W5866 sits alone in the Fairview Cove parking lot awaiting its turn to load tonight.

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Kenworth takes a break

The driver of this Kenworth was getting a little shut-eye before hitting the road back to Quebec. Atfer most of the day spent loading an oversize aircraft tail assembly at the Fairview Cove pier, the Watson truck parked outside probably until midnight when he could move through city streets to reach the highway.

Watson trucks have made four trips to Halifax recently, carrying large boilers bound for Libya. There were a couple more Watson tucks loading at Fairview today too. 

Long load for Quebec

Transport Watson is back again for this long load for Quebec. Labels on the tarp suggest that it is a fuselage for a Bomardier CJ700  commuter jet. It certainly is long enough. As usual Watson has a Kenworth on the job, and freshly washed too.

A very clean Ford pickup will be escort vehilce, but it was too quick for me to get apic.

Swap Meet

Two big KWs hand over to to two Big W'Stars.
The two big Kenworths from Transport Watson Montreal brought a pair of crates to the Fairview Cove container pier parking lot. There they dropped the trailers for Mills Heavy Hauling's two Western Stars.
Mills then took the crates to the Halterm container pier at the south end of town (and though city traffic.)
Waiting for the Watson trucks were two travelling girder cranes, already on trailers, just in from Europe and ready to go.
A neatly done swap.
1. Watson KW #895 has stacks ahead of the sleeper (which also has a side window).

2. Watson KW #898 has stacks behind sleeper, and larger fuel tanks. The third axles appear to be removable tag axles.

3. Watson's return loads are these generously sized crane beams. They are to be accompanied by an escort vehicle on their return trip.

4. Mills W'Star has made it through Halifax traffic to the other end of town. His extra axle is ahead of the drivers and is an air lift.

5. The other Mills 'Star is also lined and ready to get clearance into the terminal. The trailers had Ontario plates.
Transport Watson's website is worth a peak:

http://www.transportwatson.com/

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