An afternoon at the harbour part 4 of 4.

An afternoon at the harbour part 4 of 4

When all the harbour excitement died down, my attention turned to the giant Crain. I have never seen such a large crane operating in such a small space. 

In fact I’ve not really seen that many huge Crains at all. I started wondering how it got there and how it intended to leave. 

I sort of assumed it had arrived on some sort of trailer but no, I was informed it actually drove itself there and at the end of the day it was going to reverse itself out of that confined space and drive itself back from where ever it came. 

So……. We wandered over to watch. I was utterly amazed; I didn’t known that these things fold themselves up like giant transformer toys. First the tall extended bit that actually lifts things telescoped itself down into its base. 

Then, once telescoped down it lowered itself onto the top of the cab where it nestled safely in the little crevice specially made for the purpose. After it had safely secured itself to the top of the cab; the giant hook clipped itself into the front of the cab to stop it swaying about. After the top of the Crain was safely secured, at the press of a button, the enormous stabilisers that stopped the whole thing from toppling into the harbour, gently slid back into a space next to the wheels.
I’m pretty certain not every one will be as amazed as I was at this giant transformer and what it could do, but I guess as far as heavy machinery is concerned, my knowledge and experience is very limited, the whole thing was quite an education for me. I've decided I love the magic of hydraulics.
Oh... obviously there WAS a driver.........the expression 'drove itself' etc was not intended literally  :-) .