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Skidding oil tanks JLP01_08_022844
Wall Art and Photo Gifts from Historic England
Skidding oil tanks JLP01_08_022844
STANLOW OIL REFINERY, STANLOW, ELLESMERE PORT, CHESHIRE. An oil tank being skidded along tracks by two Caterpillar D8 tractors fitted with winches at Stanlow Oil Refinery.
The contract for re-sitting storage tanks at Stanlow Oil Refinery involved the removal of four tanks 650 yards from their original position. Each tank weighed 300 tons and the journey involved one 30 degree turn and two 90 degree turns for each tank. The tanks also had to cross the 25ft wide pipe track, over which a steel bridge with concrete buttresses was constructed in preparation for the journey. The tanks were raised on rails and skidded by tractors fitted with winches
Historic England is the public body that champions and protects England's historic places
Media ID 24135906
© Historic England Archive. John Laing Photographic Collection
1950s Civil Engineering Construction Engineering Machinery Oil Refinery
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This print captures a remarkable feat of engineering at the Stanlow Oil Refinery in Ellesmere Port, Cheshire. In this image, we witness two powerful Caterpillar D8 tractors fitted with winches skillfully skidding an enormous oil tank along tracks. The task at hand was no small feat - four tanks weighing a staggering 300 tons each needed to be relocated 650 yards from their original position. To accomplish this monumental undertaking, the tanks had to navigate one 30-degree turn and two 90-degree turns, adding an extra layer of complexity to the operation. Additionally, crossing a wide pipe track presented another challenge that required careful planning and execution. In preparation for the journey, a steel bridge with concrete buttresses was constructed over the pipe track to provide stability and support for these colossal tanks. Once raised on rails, the tractors equipped with winches took charge and expertly guided these mammoth structures towards their new destination. This awe-inspiring photograph not only showcases incredible machinery but also highlights the ingenuity and precision of civil engineering during this era. It serves as a testament to human capability when faced with seemingly insurmountable tasks in construction projects. Thanks to Historic England Archive's preservation efforts, we can marvel at this snapshot from history that celebrates both industrial progress and human achievement in equal measure.
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