The cranes at the QEII Terminal in Southampton

[qe2-I-luved-it]

From 2001 to 08 when either bording the qe2 or getting off I would notice the old gray coloured cranes at the qe11 ternimal southampton as they loaded goods on to the qe2. Im not taking about the modern ones they use in the container port as these cranes look like vintage craines and l know nothing about them. By the look of them id say they had been there for many dacades and seen many a ship come on go for the first and last time, to say as a kind of standing testimony to ships past and present.

Does any one here know anything about them the cranes im talking about? when where they they first installed outside the qe11 terminal in southampton. in recant times i noticed they had disappered from outside the ternimall an i was wondering why they had been taken away? In  the past have seen them loading goods on to the qm2 and other ships. i was just wondering about them. I know its off topic but does anyone know?  https://www.flickr.com/photos/tipsfortravellers/2470842622/in/photostream/

[Isabelle Prondzynski]

Yes, I too have often thought that these look like venerable and historic cranes, and have enjoyed watching them at work. If they are now gone, that is sad news -- I associate them so much with QE2!

I hope that someone here will know more about their history and about what has happened to them.

[tdickson]

The cranes in question and all the others with the exception of one at City Terminal and one at Mayflower, there is not one at all at Ocean, were no longer used by the shipping companies i:e Cunard/ P & O/ Princess, RCCL as there is no need for the use of the cranes on modern cruise ships as most of the stores etc is transferred to the ship through the side of the ship using forklift trucks and tele-handlers, this way saves the companies the extra expense of the use of the cranes when in port. The older ships still in use i;e Saga Ruby & Sapphire still need the cranes when they call in as all the luggage etc.. is lifted off the ships open aft decks via the use of the crane. If for instance a "SAGA" goes to QE11 terminal (Very rarely) a portable crane is brought in.
Not good for the old cranes, I don`t know whatever became of them, probably scrap but it all saves money.
Another fore instance on the shipping companies saving (Port Expenses) if you go back and look at the QM2 re-fit videos (Nov 2011) a skytrack is mentioned, this was added to QM2 so as they could wash all her outer windows when in port without having to employ the use of a "Cherry Picker" Thus saving added expense

[Twynkle]

Aren't these the cranes that have been known to fall over (!) for years?
Didn't one of them break shortly after QE2 took her leave for the final time?
I know I posted something about the incident, however advanced searching 'isn't interested'(!)
Got lots of photos of them - they must be just about the most photographed cranes in the world!
Rosie

[Peter Mugridge]

Are these the cranes we are talking about?

[Bruce Nicholls]

At Whit 1963 (I think) my parents took my brother and myself to Brittany from Southampton in our Vauxhall Victor estate. This was before the days of ro-ro ferries and the car was lifted aboard the ship (the Falaise), on a drive on ramp that was then craned onto the deck by one of these cranes. All recorded on the old family cine films which I have. Not sure exactly where the ferry left from, but I seem to remember it as a standard dockside with lots of railway tracks, cranes etc with buildings behind, so it could be these cranes.

[Twynkle]

Are these the cranes we are talking about?

Hi Peter,
Yes -They are the ones I thought everyone was referring too!
Wonder whether people in Soton would have liked them to stay...?
Maybe they were really dangerous.
Rosie

[pete cain]

 Found this interesting video about Southampton Docks in 1958, plenty of cranes in various shots , don't know if these are the ones,bear with this , about 5mins in Queen Elizabeth makes an appearance,the trains alongside, well worth a watch for the history.         

 as ever thanks to youtube & those who post.       Mods shift as necessary please..

[Rod]

Sigh, so many changes! I am probably one of the few people on this site to have used the railway station at South Western House! Arrived there to pick up the TSS Golfito for a move to Jamaica!
And now no cranes!