What are these police escorted vehicles I saw on the M25?

But to add, the police stopped me going on a roundabout once, then a mahoosive truck with a big green metal brick on the back went by. Later found out through my own searching that it was nuclear material. Which I found to be mega cool. I can imagine if I’d tried to drive around them I’d still be in an unmarked jail.

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FrostyChemistry5644@reddit

One pushing ome pulling that was a heavy ass load !!

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Beartato4772@reddit

Countdown to an American not noticing the sub title and complaining about the person filming on their phone (who is of course, the passenger)

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Mysterious_One9@reddit

No police escort in your video. It also looks like a transformer for an electricity substation being transported.

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ogola89@reddit (OP)

I'd already gone past the police who were behind. That's interesting though, you might be right

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Mysterious_One9@reddit

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JSweetieNerd@reddit

Googleing electrical transformer trailers, these are specialist trailers that can lift insane weights, there's a video of a 271 tonne transformer being transported from Kings Lynn to somewhere in Norwich. I imagine the 2 tractors are for pulling and pushing given normally tractors are only rated to about 44 tonnes, and the maximum load Allelys seem to have done is like 700 tonnes, it's insane.

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SelfSufficientHub@reddit

Possible it was a decepticon or nah?

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Affectionate_You7621@reddit

More likely a Dinobot.

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Novel-Case6821@reddit

And now I'm thinking of really boring things that could be G1 transformers. Pylons, for example.

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Hulkenberk@reddit

Abnormal load movement, usually things like giant equipment tanks and ppwer station transformers (possibly what you've seen here). Police escort them through towns because they have a truck front and back and they stop traffic to enable them to maneuver often using the opposite side of the roads/roundabouts where necessary to make their turns.

Saw a video of them (Allelys) where the combined load (trucks, equipment and load) was something over 300 tonnes.

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ogola89@reddit (OP)

Thanks, it seems that's the consensus here. Never really thought about that, but it makes sense why they then do it at 11 at night rather than during the day with more traffic

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Greedy-Mechanic-4932@reddit

FWIW there's a shit load of paperwork that comes with these movements, with various parties being involved in the planning and preparation and 'granted' permissions.

The paperwork often goes into minute detail as to start time, end time and rendezvous or stabling points if necessary.

In some locations, these will be moved during the day - to ensure good visibility around limited clearances etc. The fact this was on the M25 is likely why it was late/overnight - to limit the impact on traffic flow during peak times.

Chances are, if it doesn't reach it's destination before rush hour, it'll be parked in a layby for a day (or more) until it's next "movement window".

And any breach of the permissions on the paperwork = a hefty fine.

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Pocket_Aces1@reddit

They're Escorts (not that type) but aren't police. They have to follow STGO guidelines which also reduce when they can move (non-peak hours).

If they're in tight, congested areas which may require removal of street furniture (lampposts, signs, traffic lights, etc), the council get involved and potentially the police (usually police bikes with follow cars) to block roads when needed (like having to go oncoming on a roundabout (the wrong way).

Alleys is a heavy haulage company specialising in extreme weights and sizes of items which can't realistically be dismantled smaller.

That is a sub-station transformer, either for step up or step down, and weighs probably around 200t (200,000kg), due to all of the oil that the coils are submerged in.

They have some cool videos online from people that follow the routes. It takes months of planning to get the thing from A to B, and lots of permits

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ogola89@reddit (OP)

I thought this was just a tongue in cheek comment but you may be right!

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Neddlings55@reddit

Oversized vehicle perhaps? Or one that cant travel at motorways speeds, hence the time.

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ogola89@reddit (OP)

I guess, I was just surprised at the minimum 3 lanes and yet couldn't go past them

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Exciting_Top_9442@reddit

Allerlys heavy transport, there’s a documentary about them.

Basically they are the UKs go-to when you want steam trains and other locomotives like diesel for instance moved around.

Interesting stuff.

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WillClyde123@reddit

Wide load. The wife had to go down the motorway to Asda.

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