Volume Six - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Select Aspects - Reconstruction of Three Tips - 1912 - 17 . . .

The Tips are to be fitted with every requirement, including two cranes, and to be complete in every detail, and the Contractor is to make provision for connecting all necessary pipes with the Company's hydraulic pressure and return water mains ; the work to include also all the necessary valves and fittings to operate and control all movements and working parts of the tips and appliances, down to the connections to the Company's pressure and return mains respectively, such connections and fittings to be of sufficient size to ensure the tips fulfilling all the conditions hereinafter set forth.

The Tips are to be worked by hydraulic power, at a pressure ranging from 600 to 750 pounds per square inch, and are to be provided with cradles, cylinders, rams, and all other necessary appliances of sufficient size, strength, and stability to enable the tips to deal with the standard 10, 12, and 15 tons coal wagons of ordinary 4 feet 8½ inches gauge, with a maximum gross load of 23 tons, exclusive of the cradle and attachments, and to tip the same at any level from 3 feet to 41 feet above the level of the coping of the Dock wall, the total travel of cradle being 38 feet.

The speed of lifting, lowering, and tipping must be such that at any pressure between 600 and 750 lbs. per square inch, one wagon of coal per minute may be dealt with in all its operations of running from the turntable on to cradle, lifting to full height, or lowering to its lowest position, tipping, returning to high level platform, and running off cradle to the turntable.

The Tips are to be constructed to the general drawings herewith and to the Specification. The Contractors may submit any amendments in detail for the approval of the Locomotive Superintendent, but it must be understood that such amendments, if approved, will not affect the Contract Price.

The framework of the Tips is to be constructed of mild steel, substantially built, and of approved section. Base girders are to be provided of approved section, 2 feet 6 inches in depth, and approximately 45 feet long, and are to be amply cross-strutted, to take the working load of all cylinders that may be put on them.