Corazal - the little Scots dredger that could - and did

[druxey]

An interesting news item about a dredger and the lost model of her:

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-59644117

 

 

[Brian Hanington]

What a marvel! Thanks so much for posting this. I was 16 when I first went though the Panama Canal in 1968 as an ordinary seaman in the Canadian navy, and I vividly recall hearing stories from the officers about the enormity of the dredging task in the canal’s creation (not to mention the toll of malaria). She’s a beautiful vessel, and wouldn’t I love to build a model of her! Here’s hoping some kitmaker is similarly inspired. 🙂

[druxey]

You could try a scratch-built one, Brian!

[Brian Hanington]

By God, a capital idea! I shall work up to it. I wonder if the Paisley Museum might have a good set of photos.  I’ll ask!

 

 

[druxey]

Keep us posted, She would make a fascinating subject, Brian.

[anima]

Just wondering if you were ever able to dredge up 😁 any plans on this from the Paisley museum. I wonder what happened to it afterwards. 

[Rik Thistle]

This is a very interesting subject, about which I know nothing!

 

But the picture from Wiki gets the grey matter going.

[This is a photograph from the Freshwater and Marine Image Bank at the en:University of Washington. Materials in the Freshwater and Marine Image Bank are in the public domain. No copyright permissions are needed. Acknowledgement of the Freshwater and Marine Image Bank as a source for borrowed images is requested.]

 

I had initially assumed the bucket chain would move clockwise, but of course all that would do is pull the dredger along.

 

So the buckets travel ACW, which must mean there is a strong backwards force to be resisted. Would the dredger be chained to the shore or rely on engine power?

 

I also wonder how the dirt/mud was removed to dry land.

 

Off to have a 'dig' about this subject.

 

Richard

Edited December 19, 2022 by Rik Thistle

[Rik Thistle]

Found this 1911 report in the Wiki References ....

The British-Built Dredger for Panama - Scientific American ... https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-british-built-dredger-for-panam/

 

Extract: -

Steam manoeuvring winches are fitted at bow and stern, each driven by independent, two-cylinder engines, and each barrel is fitted with friction clutch and brake, to enable the  to work independently of each other, or simultaneously, as may be required. Shoots are provided for loading into the vessel's own hopper, also overboard shoots controlled by independent steam winches, for loading into barges alongside.

 

That seems to answer how it was secured and how the dredgings were unloaded.

 

Richard