Wear Hopper No 4.

Wear Hopper No 4.

Postby Stephen Swinhoe » Sat Oct 13, 2012 10:32 am

Built 1959.

Wear Hopper No 4.jpg
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Re: Wear Hopper No 4.

Postby fitter » Sun Mar 03, 2013 6:33 pm

Nice picture of a once familiar sight on the river. This and its sister were John Crowns contracts built after Thompsons had taken over the yard. Wear Hopper No3 was Crowns yard number 246. 640 DWT; Mirlees engine. Wear Hopper No4 was Crowns yard number 247. They were identical and each was 148ft -6" (45.26 mtrs) LBP. I can't remember if it was these two or the following two contracts (the tugs Flying Witch and Flying Wizard), that were "joined at the hip" and went down the ways together.
Have a look at the coal barge loading just aft of Wear Hopper No4. was its bridge a trial run for the Borgsten? If so, it had struts, just like the Borgsten and perhaps for the same reason! Both Hoppers were built for the River Wear Commissioners and were employed in carrying colliery waste and dredgings from the river to be dumped at sea. Was it three or four miles out?
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Re: Wear Hopper No 4.

Postby northeast » Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:06 pm

Fitter, the high bridge is actually on a tug (forget its name), so that they could see over the tops of the two barges BUMBLEBEE 1 and 2 which you see in the photo, the tug's bow slotted into the sterns of the barges to make a single unit at sea. I think this was when coal was being exported to Denmark or Sweden, the local lads will know more. We also had them into Hull for a while.
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Re: Wear Hopper No 4.

Postby teesships » Sun Mar 03, 2013 7:42 pm

George,

I think the BUMBLEBEE tug was the WESWEAR (7533367), 145gt, completed Zaandam 1975
1975 BRAKE - 1989 WESWEAR - 1994 MIMER - 1996 GOLIATH FUR - 2001 STEVNS
Still in service.

Ron
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Re: Wear Hopper No 4.

Postby fitter » Sun Mar 03, 2013 8:32 pm

Thanks George,I see it clearly now, but it does resemble the Borgsten's vibration prone navigation bridge.
Thanks
Tom
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