Wallsend Slipway

The photos below have been copied from the web; copyright remains with the respective owners & publishers.

An advert for Wallsend Slipway - see Grace's Guide or Tyne Tugs for more

A ship being repaired at Wallsend Slipway, 1880

At the start of the 20th century, factors such as cross Atlantic demand, German & US competition, Parson's turbine development, UK government loans, mail contracts, Swan Hunter absorbing Wigham Richardson and having a controlling interest in Wallsend Slipway, led to Swans building the RMS Mauretania.

A turbine rotor for the Mauretania at Wallsend Slipway, c1906

Turbine assembly for the Mauretania at Wallsend Slipway, c1906

Constructing the Mauretania keel at Swan Hunters & Wigham Richardson ,c1905

The launch of the Mauretania hull in 1906

The Mauretania on sea trials off St Abbs in 1907 - impressive at her 25 knot design speed.
The Parsons-designed turbine engines built at Wallsend Slipway proved up to the job.

Mauretania leaving the Tyne in 1907 - it was the largest liner at the time,
& held the speed record for the Atlantic crossing for over 20 years.

The Mauretania in dazzle during WWI
(a U-boat sank sister ship Lusitania, bringing the USA into WWI)

The foundry at Wallsend Slipway

An erecting shed at Swan Hunter, with a ship leaving the slipway

No.3 (EB 37 of 1898) at Wallsend Slipway in the 1960s

Wallsend Slipway No.3 at Goathland on the NYMR on 31/10/1970,
displaying the University of Newcastle coat of arms
(photo courtesy of Chris Turnbull)

Last Tuesday, No.3 ready to leave Tanfield for the Flour Mill
(photo courtesy of Chris Smyth)