EPW036418 ENGLAND (1931). Boats outside the King George Dock Grain Silo, Kingston upon Hull, 1931

To save space on the ground, we see here crane tracks on the roof of the building. These are more clearly seen in EPW036558. the position of the tack suggest these cranes were used to load/unload goods being despatched from or arriving at the back of the warehouses along the quayside.

Dock cranes often straddled the railway line closest to the quayside. This allowed a greater reach for the crane over the ship, as well bring the loaded wagons as close as possible. The four legs of the crane ran on their own wheels, often set in bogies, along an outside pair of rails, with the railway line running down the middle. The 'arch' of the crane was large enough for all types of railway wagons and engines to pass through. Many of this type of crane were power by electricity and had a cable on a drum which was paid in and out as the crane moved along the quay.

Travelling crane able to accommodate the British railway loading gauge