I've stuck this photo here because of all the extra detail of the river on it.
With, what looks like, all hands on deck is this her under tow in October 1949 to Rosyth, why was she being towed to Rosyth?

Hi Kevin.

I don't think that that picture was taken in 1949 - more likely departure on completion or a later visit to the river - note the flight deck markings, deck recognition letter and boiler fumes from the funnel - must be after completion (1954). I think she was towed to Rosyth earlier (for dry-docking?) and, I think, was involved in a collision en-route.

Dennis.

Dennis

You are correct about the collision. See:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Albion_(R07)

NOTE: For some reason the automatic link is ignoring the ")" at the end. Just type it into the address bar.

Clearly a London & Overseas tanker on the north side (is that Wallsend area?) but none of them were built there.

George, That's NEM with Jarrow Staithes opposite side.

Just looking at her construction in a bit more detail as reported in the Wiki article above. Launched 1947 and towed to Rosyth in 1949. I presume more or less complete at this time. Had a slight mishap on the way to Rosyth leading to a flooding in the engine room. Then not "fully completed until May 1954". Was she at Rosyth all this time?

Maybe answering my own question. ALBION was a pioneer of the "angled deck" and "mirror landing system", perhaps these were fitted at Rosyth.

Going back to Kevin's photo, there is a copy in Ian Buxton's book "Swan Hunter Built Warships" and he dates the photo as April 1954 when ALBION leaves the Wallsend Yard. There is also a photo of ALBION at sea on the way to Rosyth and she is a bare hull without the island. The photo caption says she was just going to Rosyth for drydocking. So presumably spent the rest of the time on the Tyne.

Tyne movements show Albion as returning from Rosyth on 22 August 1950.