The cranes don't exist now, but I used to drive them from 1978 until they were dismantled, I'm guessing mid 1980's. We used to unload coal, salt, granite sets and beach bowls (timber logs). There were also 4 cranes at the East Quay (Fishers) one of which nearly caused the death of me. I was unloading logs from the Con Zelo and I took the weight on the last grab of the day, the crane was overloaded as they could only lift about 2 tons. The back legs of the crane came off of the rails by about 3 feet. I dropped the load back onto the ship and the crane was on the point of no return. Harry Barnes, on the stevedores jumped onto the back of the crane to try to alter the point of balance. I don't think that made any difference but the crane bounced back onto the rails 3 or 4 times. I came down from the crane, apparently as white as a sheet.. it took me a long while before I ventured back up again.

Alan's comments bring back memories of my own experience on the North Quay cranes - like Alan, I used to drive cranes at both North Quay and Fishers, but I went one better by toppling the second crane (from the right, above) when landing timber onto the quayside. It seemed to take ages to topple over but all I could do was "hang on for grim death" inside the cab and watch the ground come up to meet me!! However, I walked from the crane with just a small scratch and a bruised shin, how lucky was that? I even resumed driving on one of the other cranes about an hour later.

Sounds like you had a really lucky escape Ian! When was this and did it get into the local papers?  It would be good to get a photo of it to add to the site... Jackie - Editor