Belco's move of a massive 14.5 megawatt engine through the streets of Hamilton on Saturday night went smoothly, despite heavy winds and torrential rain.

The streets were empty of spectators and most people seemed interested in getting inside a nearby pub or restaurant to watche the giant 280-ton engine make its way along Front St., to the Belco facility on Cemetery Road.

Accompanied by a Police escort and Belco officials, the trip took about three hours.

The freighter Jumbo Fairlane, captained by Dutch Master Captain William Van Vugt, transported almost 1.5 million tons of engines, generators and related electrical equipment from Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Captain Van Vugt and crew began unloading the equipment at 5 p.m. on Saturday after bad weather delayed the operation, initially due to begin at 1 p.m.

The equipment was unloaded from the cargo ship by remote-control powered cranes and onto a flat bed truck in preparation for the journey.

A hydraulic lift transported the engine from the truck to the engine building at the Belco facility on Cemetery Road, where it will be installed and hooked up to the main electrical grid in time for summer, 2005.

Belco spokesperson Linda Smith said everything went on schedule despite the weather related delays.

Saturday's move will be followed by a second move tonight of another 14.5-megawatt engine, leaving the dock before 6 p.m. Generators will also be transported this evening along with related electrical equipment.

Another traffic advisory has been issued for tonight and motorists are reminded that there is no parking in the outside portion of number one shed all day and night. From 6 p.m. there will be no parking on both sides of Front Street from No. 8 shed west to the birdcage, both sides of Queen Street between Front and Church streets, both sides of Church Street west from Queen Street to Par la Ville Road. Both sides of Par la ville Road from Church Street to the Serpentine Road roundabout as well as both sides of Woodlands Road from the roundabout north to Cemetery Road as far as the construction site.

Although parking notices have been posted since last week, The Royal Gazette noted that cars attempted to park on Queen Street Saturday night, despite signs indicating no parking there after 6 p.m.

"We thank the public for their co-operation so far and we ask motorists to take heed of traffic sings while on the roads during Belco's move of heavy equipment," said Police media spokesman Robin Simmons.