A CRANE built in Carlisle is still fully operational in Singapore more than 75 years after it was made.
The 150-tonne electric floating crane was built by legendary Carlisle firm Cowans Sheldon in 1948, and made its way to the other side of the world where it is still in use today.
The crane was spotted by Carlisle resident, David Cunninghame, who was in Singapore for work.
“It’s fascinating,” said David.
“I'm in the maritime industry, so that's the reason I was at the shipyard, and I saw the plaque on the side of the crane, and I couldn’t believe it.
“I was talking to one of the managers at the shipyard, so I said that crane was built where I’m living and he replied, ‘that thing just keeps on going’.
"The locals are still perfectly happy with the crane which I thought was quite a unusual thing in itself because of all the regulation that comes with cranes and for such a thing from that era, to still be able to pass all the regulations and modern rules, it must be very well engineered.”
Cowans Sheldon was founded in 1846 in Upperby and had a world-leading reputation in the construction of rail and dock cranes which were exported across the world.
The business moved to a new site at St Nicholas St, Carlisle off London Road in 1857.
In 1933, the largest floating crane in the world was manufactured by Cowans Sheldon, then the world’s leading crane makers.
The massive crane was assembled in the Nagasaki dockyard in Japan by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries. It had a lifting capacity of 350 tons.
After a boom during the war, the company continued but sadly closed its doors for the final time in 1987.
In December, former Cowans Sheldon employees gathered for only the second time in a decade to reminisce about the iconic Carlisle firm.
The event, organised by ex-plant manager Ray McCreadie and former electrical engineer Gordon Dodds, hosted around 80 individuals whose pride in their work and camaraderie has kept a special place in their hearts, more than 36 years since they downed tools.
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