This postcard shows the beaching of SS Athina Livanos (incorrectly named by the printers!) and despite the Greek name; she was a 4824 ton steamer built by Grays of Hartlepool and completed in October 1936. The beaching took place on 28th February 1937, so the ship was brand new and probably en route to its new owner. It ran aground on Redcar beach; which when beached was an attraction for residents and visitors from all around, named after the 2nd daughter of shipping magnate at the time Stavros Livanos. This daughter later married Aristotle Onassis and mother of two children Alexander and Christina. The Athina Livanos was lost on 29th November 1943 when it was torpedoed in the Gulf of Aden by the Japanese submarine 1-27.
Image courtesy of John G. Hannah, additional information courtesy of ‘Redcar – Past and Present’.
A further image of the 1909 derailment on the Liverton Viaduct showing how the N.E.R. overcame the problems that accidents caused to its passenger timetable. Drawn up close to the head of the accident (on the Loftus side) is a commuter train. The passengers from a Whitby-bound train can be seen walking along the trackbed, some with small children, to board the commuter train, which will then take them on the rest of their journey. Simon Chapman tells us: ”The accident occurred in 1909 and the wagons involved were fairly new. Unusually for mineral wagons they had continuous (air) brakes and were being used on trains between Liverton Mines and Cargo Fleet Works.” The Breakdown Crane Association advised: ”The crane appears to be a Cowans Sheldon 15-tonner. I think it’s likely to have been either CME 1 or CME 2 which were built in 1893 for the NER.”
Image courtesy of Joyce Dobson and Keith Bowers, many thanks to Simon Chapman and the Breakdown Crane Association for additional information.
A different view of the bus crash from the 1950s showing the United bus still in the stream, viewed from the Loftus side of the bridge, possibly from the former railway line that linked Whitecliffe mine with Loftus (Skinningrove) mine.
S.S. Santiago, in collision with and sank the steam trawler Cairness of Hartlepool. Santiago was damaged and she ran ashore at Redcar 8th November 1911. An A. F. Graham. Redcar postcard.
A Dutch registered vessel of 499 tons Hendrika was on passage from Bayonne to Aberdeen with a cargo of maize. She stranded on Salt Scar rocks Redcar on 4th May 1973 and became a total loss. Information from ”Shipwrecks of North East Coast” by Ron Young. Fred Brunskill tells us: ”Full of grain and bound for Aberdeen she came ashore with very little warning. Although crew were able to get off, the Sir James Knott lifeboat( now at Kirkleatham Museum ) and the inshore inflatable lifeboat were both in attendance.”
Pete Dale has told the Archive: “I was heading to work in Redcar from Upleatham that evening when noticed this coaster heading along at a great rate of knots in bright sunlight but too close-in, for my liking. On getting to work I found a high point to find the Hendrika ashore on the Salt Scar. I remember someone trying to salvage the vessel after she rolled over, by placing two old (I assume) petrol tanks into the hold, but this failed. Some time later the propeller was found behind Welford’s Garage, located off Fisherman’s Square; between the garage and William Street.”
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday and thanks to Fred Brunskill and Pete Dale for the updates.
Believed to be the result of an accident on the Skinningrove Zig Zag Line. The hopper wagon in the photograph contains coke breeze, perhaps from the Skinningrove Gas Works; the image is believed to date from pre the Great War.
This was a 600 ton coaster which had been tied up at the Jetty in preparation for taking aboard a load of basic slag from the Ironworks; this postcard view was produced by A. E. Graham, Publisher, Redcar. The captain and crew had gone to Timms Coffee House, leaving only the cook on board. While they were at the pub a sudden storm blew up which broke both hawsers. The ship and cook were swept onto the beach at the mouth of Skinningrove Beck. This happened at peak spring tide so it had to remain there until the following spring tides when it was towed off undamaged. Terry Shaw advises: “Name: SS Penton Official Number: 92861 Flag: Great Britain Year Built: 1887 Date Launched: 27/04/1887 Date Completed: 23/05/1887 Vessel Type: Cargo Ship Vessel Description: Coastal Cargo Ship Builder: Wood, Skinner & Company Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne Yard: Bill Quay Yard: No: 5 Tonnage: 146grt, 78nrt Length: 100 feet Breadth: 20.1 feet Depth Draft: 8.1 feet Engine Builder: Wallsend Slipway & Engineering Company Ltd, Newcastle upon Tyne Engine Detail: 1 x 2 cylinders, (13.5 & 24.9 x 18in) compound engine, single shaft, 1 screw, machinery aft. Power: 45 nhp Speed: 10.5 knots Subsequent Owner and Registration History: 23/05/1887 Wilton, Allhusen, Newcastle 13/03/1891 United Alkali Company Ltd (Eustace Carey, Manager), Liverpool 02/03/1906 Thomas Thompson & Son, Newcastle 18/10/1906 Owners restyled ‘T’ Steam Coasters Ltd (Robinson, Brown & Company, Managers), Newcastle.Image courtesy of Mrs. Shirley Dohring, thanks to Terry Shaw for the update.
December 9th 1874 the Griffin came ashore in a storm at Redcar after damaging the pier at Coatham. It was one of two ships driven onto the beach that day and finally wrecked on the Coatham Sands, the other vessel was Corrymbus.
Africander grounded at Redcar. Fred Brunskill advises: ”The large steamship ’Africander’ came ashore January 1892. Local folk were employed to lighten her load (hence the horses and carts)and she was refloated within a week.”
Image courtesy of Mike Holliday, thanks to Derick Pearson and Fred Brunskill for updates.
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