The Fairbairn Steam crane on Bristol docks

steam crane at Bristol docks

The Fairburn steam crane, named after its designer William Fairbairn, is a masterpiece of engineering. It was built in Bristol docks in 1878 to lift heavy loads (up to 35 tons), which it did for 95 years.

It has now been restored and is a Scheduled Ancient Monument under the care of Mshed.org who it her up occasionally. If you look carefully you can see the smoke from her chimney when I was passing. Fantastic steam engine smells!

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Alastair

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I'm a specialist travel journalist writing about battlefield sites, technical museums, military history, transport infrastructure, electric vehicles, amazing engineering & architecture, industrial heritage… and where you can see it. I’ve been a travel editor & presenter since 1989, originally in local radio, then national & international radio (Classic FM) before moving online just before the millennium. I’ve been an active member of the travel creative community since 2010 and a regular speaker at social media travel conferences. I’m an accredited member of the British Guild of Travel Writers (former Chair & Vice-Chair). I am co-author of Bradt: D-Day Landings – A travel guide to Normandy’s beaches and battlegrounds.

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