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View Full Version : Swan Hunters, The Last Cranes Standing -May 10 - ARCHIVE



**MudLark**
29-05-2010, 08:05 PM
I was NOT going to let these two get away, especially with their impending demolition....
Yesterday, i got my chance and i sure as hell wasn't about to waste it.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4650128835_0bba878097_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4009/4650746288_2ddf3e374b_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4650128305_739be92105_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4650128149_dbd07a0a9d_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4650127531_f6f3f56152_b.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3399/4650128213_6ceda4c70e_b.jpg

the rest are, of course on my flickr.
MORE than epic, i'm still feeling the burn!

I was talking to one of the demo guys, and as of today these things are pretty much sitting on their own weight
Support beams have been cut right through so if you WANT to attempt it, try and lean into the drop zone?
:thumb

A total shame that these are going, the last of Swan Hunters... but climbing up you can see they are in pretty bad nick. It would take an awful lot to get them back into commission again. Shame, but what's a shipbuilding crane with no ships to build?

Sad, very sad.

wolfism
29-05-2010, 08:37 PM
Craniac! Good photos though, and nice to see daylight as opposed to nighttime shots of a jib. Are they planning to topple them?

**MudLark**
31-05-2010, 02:09 PM
yes wolfism, they are set to be dropped on the 4th.
:(
The mounds of earth on the ground are there to protect the surface as the council now own the land, but not the cranes.

sqwasher
01-06-2010, 10:47 AM
Well done taking the chance to get some photies while they're still standing. Are you planning to catch the demo too?

**MudLark**
01-06-2010, 12:03 PM
Well done taking the chance to get some photies while they're still standing. Are you planning to catch the demo too?

Yeah i think so, just trying to figure out where would be best... all the roads are going to be closed off around the site, its looking like the far side of the river at the moment.

Neosea
01-06-2010, 05:22 PM
Well done Mudlark, not surprised you're still buzzzin.

doozer
02-06-2010, 08:54 PM
Immensely well done, chick. I'd've had serious disco knees by less than a third of the way up!:thumb

**MudLark**
03-06-2010, 01:18 PM
Immensely well done, chick. I'd've had serious disco knees by less than a third of the way up!:thumb

Thank you doozer!

The very worst ladder was the one that connects the jib to the main support... that little gem hangs RIGHT OVER the side of the crane, so really you are only clinging to the outside.... THAT took a weeeee bit of persuading to do (only because i looked DOWN when i promised myself i wouldn't!)

The disco knees came afterwards. For two days......

magooČ
03-06-2010, 09:50 PM
Excelent stuff here. gotta love them cranes :thumb

**MudLark**
05-06-2010, 06:53 PM
just for you, Mex....

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4070/4650745112_1de681eec0_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4650127125_69b980e495_b.jpg
:thumb

Makes it all worthwhile when you see this...........

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4671615914_4756f712be_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4671794513_d593b829f1_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4671796039_ebc179e224_b.jpg

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4670990141_e6c2ec0288_b.jpg

A really really sad thing to see, 90 years these have stood here, and 20 seconds is all it took to bring them down. It is the end of a long, painful death for Swan Hunters, i just hope that the plans for the land come off and maritime industry never leaves the Tyne.

fingers crossed, eh?

**MudLark**
05-06-2010, 07:27 PM
At least they'll be easier to climb now :lol:

you're kidding? a few tons of scrap metal on the deck? its tighter than a badgers ARSE down there!


Good job - I'm glad someone had a last climb up before they went...

I think i would have kicked myself the rest of my LIFE if i had not have done it, I've had my eyes on them for years, glad to have got at least one under my belt before they came down.

skin
05-06-2010, 07:44 PM
Well documented - nice one for doing the climb and catching the final demise too.

Dystopia
06-06-2010, 08:40 PM
Looks like a good view up there! :D

industry
06-06-2010, 08:58 PM
Top stuff!! Brilliant and well done.... I am just so annoyed I was not around at home to see them come down last Friday - Work eh! Great pics and really the end of an era following the 3 years of Swan Hunters being demolished, sad times indeed!

**MudLark**
07-06-2010, 03:19 AM
Top stuff!! Brilliant and well done.... I am just so annoyed I was not around at home to see them come down last Friday - Work eh! Great pics and really the end of an era following the 3 years of Swan Hunters being demolished, sad times indeed!

It is, indeed the end of an era.
I took mini mudlark to see it too, i figured she aught to know, as most of the rest of her generation will have no idea what put the town she came from on the map.
THATS the tragedy.

boxerheaven
07-06-2010, 09:58 AM
nicely documented and well done for climbing (brave or what ) :)