WorldWide Drilling Resource

18 MARCH 2014 WorldWide Drilling Resource ® Tunneling Namesakes Compiled by Amy White, Associate Editor WorldWide Drilling Resource ® The practice of naming tunnel bor- ing machines (TBMs) dates back to the earliest mining traditions. According to this long-held custom, a TBM never begins work until it is given a name. As legend has it, early miners orig- inally established shrines in mines to honor the patron saints of protection of underground workers. The names of these saints gave miners a personal connection to the dangerous work they did. Paying tribute to saints by name eventually led to the naming of TBMs. Today, naming a TBM often involves a community or school competition where members or students suggest names. As a sign of good luck for projects ahead, TBMs are typically named after strong and iconic women in history such as the following: Harriet TBM Harriet was named by the Miami-Dade County Girl Scouts Troop to honor Harriet Tubman, the abolitionist and humanitarian who escaped slavery and led rescue missions through The Underground Rai lroad. TBM Harriet made his- tory for South Florida in 2013 by complet ing tunnels for the Port of Miami. Bertha Bertha Knight Landes was the mayor of Seattle from 1926-1928. She was the first female mayor of a major U.S. city. As such, she tightened the city’s budget, raised standards, and pushed to clean up the town, bringing bold reform in a time of corruption. TBM Bertha, named by elementary students, is the world’s largest tunnel- ing machine. She is current- ly at work be- neath Seattle on the Alaskan Way Viaduct Replacement Program. Mom Chung Dr. Margaret “Mom” Chung was the first female Chinese-American physician in the U.S. She practiced in San Francisco and took thousands of servicemen under her wing during World War II, sharing meals, mentoring them, and sending them gifts. TBM Mom Chung, named through a public online poll, is at work constructing the south- bound tunnel for the Central Subway of San Francisco. Sometimes TBMs work in pairs and are named accordingly. For exam- ple, TBMs Victoria and Elizabeth are currently tunneling beneath London as part of the Crossrail project featured in the November 2013 issue of WWDR . TBM partners Thelma and Louise cre- ated tunnels for the Los Angeles Metro Red Line subway. As the naming tradition continues, TBM Harriet courtesy of portofmiamitunnel.com TBM Bertha courtesy of wsdot.wa.gov TBM Mom Chung courtesy of central- subwaysf.com it gives workers a personal connection to tunneling jobs and the greater com- munity a reason to get involved in the advancements taking place in their midst. Construcción de Túneles Tocayos Compilado por Amy White, Editora Asociada WorldWide Drilling WorldWide Drilling Resource Resource ® La práctica de dar un nombre a la maquinaria de perforación de túneles (siglas en ingles TBM) data desde los principios de las tradiciones de miner- ía. De acuerdo a esta costumbre antigua, una TBM nunca empieza el trabajo hasta que se le da un nombre. Como dice la leyenda, los mineros de antes originalmente establecieron santuarios en las minas para honrar el patrón de los santos de protección de los trabajadores subterráneos. Los nombres de estos santos daban a los mineros una conexión personal con el trabajo peligroso que realizaban. El pagar tribute a los santos por nombre eventualmente llevo a nom- brar las TBM. Hoy, dar nombre a una TBM a veces envuelve una competen- cia de una comunidad o escuela donde los miembros o estudiantes sugieren nombres. Como una señal de buena suerte para los proyectos futuros, TBM son típicamente nombradas por una mujer icónica de la historia como las sigu- ientes: Harriet TBM Harriet fue nombrada por la tropa de las Girl Scouts del condado de Miami-Dade para honrar a Harriet Tubman, la abolicionista y humanitaria que escapó la esclavitud y condujo misiones de rescate por el ferrocarril subterráneo. TBM Harriet hizo historia para el sur de la Forida en el 2013 al completar túneles para el puerto de Miami. Bertha Bertha Knight Landers fue la alcalde- sa de Seattle desde 1926-1928. Ella era la primera mujer alcaldesa de una Hector Leos Translator Tunneling trans. cont’d on page 20.