Titan Clydebank facts for kids
The Titan Crane, also known as Titan Clydebank, is a huge crane in Clydebank, Scotland. It stands about 46 meters (150 feet) tall. This special type of crane is called a cantilever crane.
Its main job was to lift very heavy things. It helped put big engines and boilers into battleships and huge ocean liners. These ships were built at the famous John Brown & Company shipyard. The Titan Crane was special because it was the world's first electric cantilever crane. When it was finished, it was also the biggest crane of its kind.
The crane is located at the end of a U-shaped dock. It helped build some of the biggest ships ever made. These include the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, and the Queen Elizabeth 2. Today, the Titan Crane is a protected historical building. It was fixed up in 2007 and is now a popular tourist spot. It also has a museum about shipbuilding. You can even see the Titan Crane on the current Clydesdale Bank £5 note!
History of the Titan Crane
Building the Giant Crane
The shipyard in Clydebank started in 1871. The company James & George Thomson moved there. John Brown & Company bought the yard in 1899. In 1905, they ordered the Titan Crane. It cost £24,600, which was a lot of money back then!
The company Sir William Arrol & Co. built the crane. It was finished two years later in 1907. A Scottish engineer named Adam Hunter designed it. He had also worked on the famous Forth Bridge. Most of the crane's machinery came from Stothert & Pitt in England.
What the Crane Did
The dock was used to finish new ships. The crane would lift heavy parts like engines into the ships. The Titan Crane's huge lifting power was very important. It helped the shipyard build extremely large ships. The yard was also in a great spot, where the River Clyde meets the River Cart.
When it was tested in 1907, the Titan was the biggest cantilever crane ever. It could lift 160 tons. In 1938, its lifting power was increased to 203 tons. This was needed to install new, very heavy gun turrets. These turrets went into ships like the Duke of York.
Surviving the War
In March 1941, Clydebank was heavily bombed. This event is known as the Clydebank Blitz. Many buildings were destroyed, and many people were hurt. But even though the town was badly hit, the Titan Crane was not damaged. It stood strong through the bombings.
Changes at the Shipyard
In 1968, the shipyard joined with four others. They formed a group called Upper Clyde Shipbuilders. This was an effort to build ships better. But in 1970, the government changed. Funding for the shipyard stopped. This led to the closure of John Brown's.
A company from Texas bought the yard. They used it to build oil rigs. Later, a French company took over. They closed the yard in 2001. After that, the area was planned for new buildings.
Famous Ships Built
The Titan Crane helped build many famous ships. These include HMS Hood, the Queen Mary, Queen Elizabeth, Queen Elizabeth 2, and the Royal Yacht Britannia.
Bringing the Crane Back to Life
The crane stopped being used in the 1980s. It was left alone for a while. During this time, parts of it were damaged. The wheelhouse was vandalized, and the metal started to rust. But in 1988, it was recognized as a very important historical building.
In 2005, a group called Clydebank Re-Built started a big project. They spent £3.75 million to fix up the crane. It opened to the public in August 2007. Workers cleaned off old paint and rust. They fixed damaged parts and then repainted it.
A special lift was put in for visitors. This lift takes people up to the top. An emergency staircase was also added. A wire mesh was put around the viewing area for safety. Bright floodlights were installed to light up the crane at night. In 2015, they even added a bungee jump!
Crane Design and Features
How the Titan Crane Works
The Titan Crane uses a fixed counterweight. This is a heavy weight that balances the crane. It also has electric hoists. These are machines that lift things. Because it was electric, it was faster than older steam-powered cranes.
For smaller loads, the crane had a smaller hoist. This auxiliary hoist could lift 30 tons. It was used often because very large loads were not needed all the time.
Size and Structure
The Titan Crane is 49 meters (161 feet) tall. It weighs about 800 tons. It sits on four concrete pillars. These pillars go 23 meters (75 feet) deep into the ground. The crane's arms are 45.7 meters (150 feet) and 27.4 meters (90 feet) long. The main tower is 12 meters (39 feet) wide. It stands only 10.7 meters (35 feet) from the edge of the dock.
Other Cranes on the Clyde
There used to be more giant cantilever cranes on the River Clyde. Now, there are four left. Besides the Titan Crane, you can find them at Stobcross (the Finnieston Crane), Scotstoun (the Barclay Curle Crane), and Greenock (the James Watt Dock Crane).
Fewer than sixty giant cantilever cranes were built worldwide. Six of them were on the Clyde. As of 2011, only eleven of these cranes were still standing. Four of those are on the Clyde!
Awards and Recognition
Engineering Awards
In 2012, the Titan Crane won the Engineering Heritage Award. This award came from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers. They called it "a magnificent example of mechanical engineering." They also said it was a key part of the local area.
In 2013, the crane was named an International Historic Civil and Mechanical Engineering Landmark. This award came from two American engineering groups. It was the fifth time a Scottish building received such an award.
Restoration Awards
The project to restore the crane also won awards. It received the Chicago Athenaeum Award for Architecture in 2008. In 2009, it won an award from the Civic Trust.
