Built 1959.

Interesting 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.
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?

Somewhere in my files I have a photo of 3 and 4 side by side being broken up on the Thames, at Greenwich in February 2005. They had been sold to General Marine in 1992.
Now where is that photo filed ..... ?

Thanks for that .I wondered what became of them. 1959 to 2005, if they were in service till broken up they will have seen 46 years of service!

WEAR HOPPER NO3 lying in a sorry state at Wapping on the Thames 25.10.01

WEAR HOPPER NO 3 at Sunderland 18.02.83