Doxford Old Yard
Posted: Wed May 01, 2013 4:21 pm
The yard that Doxfords moved to from Coxgreen. The newer yard can be seen in the background. The craneage in the old yard takes a little working out, probably quite innovative for the time. The photograph is dated 1928 which may or may not be accurate, and it looks like a keel is being laid on one of the berths.
A view down on of the three gantry berths. The plight of the crane drivers can be seen clearly here as one is travelling along the rails in the hut that covered a winch that was called a crane. In the noise of riveted ships, he would have to rely entirely on hand signals. It might not be surprising if he was subject to occasional verbal abuse when he landed on earth again if he hadn't responded quick enough to some signal. It would be interesting to hear of their experiences, Every day would begin with a long vertical climb and end with along descent. Dinner times would be the same. Toilet needs would be interesting, perhaps they just ........... Cold, wind, red hot sun, riveting and burning fumes as well as the stink of the small steam locos would add to the general discomfort of the small cockpit that was their daily workplace. The cranes wobbled from side to side as they travelled along the rails. The skill and patience of these men was best manifest when they had to lift a "heavy" load. Girders were slung between as many cranes as were needed for a particular lift and the cranes would have to work in absolute synchro to handle the loads. There may have been seven cranes over each berth. Night shift must have been very interesting. The additional interest here is the use of the six circular oil tanks used in early oil tanker design. The ship is Aztec, yard number 465 for Ragnvald Blakstad, registered in Christiana. The 5624 GRT ship was fitted with a a Doxford Triple expansion engine.
This is one of the Torpedo boats being built on a berth in the west yard.