powered axle      shipping pallet

 These shipping skids were designed to carry multi-ton axle / electric motor combo units from the maintenance facility to a machine shop on a tractor trailer flat bed.  The powered axle is dropped from the motor bogie directly onto this skid.  The skid holds the floating axle in proper alignment protecting oil seals and thrust bushings.   The skid is then placed on a trailer and shipped to the machine shop.  Finally a forklift lifts the pallet onto a special table in a large lathe.  The lathe turns the axle and cuts the wheels back into their proper shape.  The assembly is then returned to the maintenance facility and re-installed into the power bogie and vehicle.  The powered axle never leaves the pallet throughout the entire process.