The Smiffies

May 2004 Big Crane down Laira Way

Who: Just us Boys

Dave Warne rang to give me and the boys a chance to see this 100 tonne crane in action, off loading three cut up cement silos that had been shipped down from Liverpool.

The main reason for putting these shots in is for the benefit and gratification of Steve SLNKS, he'll be getting all hot and bothered when he sees this!

This picture is to give some kind of scale to what we came to see, look at the size of that hook!

The crane was not needed for it's lifting capacity, it was mainly for it's reach.

As the jib was raised and lowered the steel wires creaked uncomfortably. Look at those outriggers thingies and massive counterbalance weights

The top part of one of the silos being lifted off the barge that brought them. They were trying to get all of the parts off-loaded so the barge could be moved while the tied was still high enough.

And it was a good job we were there as Redford was able to provide a safe place for them to put one of the lower sections while they got organised...

Updated 22-5-04