Crane driver at Doxfords

Crane driver at Doxfords

Postby fitter » Mon Apr 29, 2013 8:47 pm

A tribute to that "Happy Band of Pilgrims", the Doxford crane drivers.The attachment shows one of the seven (?) "cranes" that operated over each berth.
Every time there was a "heavy" lift all seven cranes had to work in complete unison to traverse, raise and lower loads from steam engine hauled "bogies" into place on the ship. These quiet geniuses must have endured some dreadful extremes of weather, sitting almost stationary in their isolated cabins that had to be climbed up and down to every day at least once. I don't know what happened when they needed the toilet, perhaps they just ............ Oh well never mind. :o :shock: :lol: In the days of riveting, these men would have to rely on hand signals alone. High above the yard they would benefit form all the smoke of riveting, steam locos and oxy acetylene burners Clever, patient, skillful unsung heroes, salt of the earth, scarcely appreciated. Coming from Thompsons with then modern cantilever cranes over the berth, I was horrified by the antiquity and primitive methods still being used up to 1975. Competing with modern foreign facilities, it is a miracle and testimony to the long sufferance of thousands of workmen over 70 years that they still managed to produce ships as fast and as well as they did.

crane dox.jpg
Doxford crane drivers
fitter
 
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