Vehicle Salvage in the Alps
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ft /I AIN toads over the French Alps 11'1 carry a surprising amc unt of heavy traffic, and although they are magnifi,errly engineered, wide enough and safe en.anh for normal purposes, drivers insist upon running off them, from time to time, and plunging into the adjoining
ravine. When the vehicle involved happens to be a 15-tonner, getting it up on to the road again presents an unusual problem in salvage work.
For this reason, the branch establishment of Renault (now nationalized) has designed and produced what our American friends might term a " go-get-'emwagon " on unusual lines. It is a breakdown vehicle capable of hauling out a big coach or six-wheeled lorry, which has come to rest 100 yards down a 45degree slope covered with rocks and trees.
Based on one of the largest longwheelbase Renault chassis, this breakdown machine carries twin engine-driven cranes at the rear, the crane jibs being detachable for side mounting on the chassis, should this become necessary. A particularly well-equipped closed body accommodates the salvage crew and serves as a mobile workshop.
Rescue Procedure
On arrival at the scene of the accident, hand-operated sprags are screwed down into the road. Thus, the machine provides a solid anchorage for hauling, and does not depend solely upon its own considerable weight and tyre adhesion.
The engine is a relatively slow-running oiler, developing sufficient power at 600 r.p.m. for cable haulage purposes. The winding drmns operate at 28 r.p.m. and carry 18 mm.' steel cables. Blocks and tackle, with triple purchase on the cranes, provide a further 3:1 reduction, and it is claimed that with this the machine can retrieve 15-ton vehicles from the most difficult positions.
A tension of 15 tons can be taken on the jibs and of 35 tons on the winding drum.
Many people are inclined to think of Southern France as a land of perpetual sunshine. This idea has been fostered by tourist agencies for generations past.
Many of us know, to our sorrow, that winter there, especially in the mountains, is often hard.
Dining the charming European weather of last March, which extended to the Alpes Maritimes, a 6-ton coach went off the road near Valberg, at an altitude of nearly 5,600 ft. The vehicle slid to the bottom of a ravine 200 ft.
deep, but was not badly damaged, because of the soft snow.
Salvage operations were carried out at night under arctic conditions. After the Renault breakdown vehicle arrived on the spot, six hours were spent in preparations, but the actual hauling up of the big Berliet coach on to the road again took exactly 15 minutes.