Seaham Harbour
Posted: Sat May 17, 2014 10:29 pm
Thought these may be of interest - evidence of the railways at Seaham Harbour, which I first visited a few weeks ago. A wonderful place that I look forward to returning to and exploring more... what I would have given to visit back in the day of paddle tugs, vertical boiler locomotives, No 18 and chaldron wagons aplenty
In the old Lifeboat House is the 'George Elmy', a Liverpool Class RNLI Lifeboat. In 1962, it left Seaham on a rescue to local fishermen in distress. Tragically, after saving the crew, before it entered the harbour it capsized. The Liverpool Class was not one of the self-righting types of Lifeboat, and all the crew drowned, and all but one of those rescued drowned also. The 'George Elmy' was found washed up, upside down, on a local beach the next day. It was refurbished, put back into service, and eventually retired and became a fishing boat, like many old Lifeboats. It was restored and returned to Seaham last year, re-entering Seaham Harbour under its own power, returning home since leaving that night in 1962. It is now in the Lifeboat House, home to the East Durham Heritage Centre, as a very fitting memorial to the brave men of Seaham Lifeboat. The centre also has displays and photographs relating to the railways in the area
In the old Lifeboat House is the 'George Elmy', a Liverpool Class RNLI Lifeboat. In 1962, it left Seaham on a rescue to local fishermen in distress. Tragically, after saving the crew, before it entered the harbour it capsized. The Liverpool Class was not one of the self-righting types of Lifeboat, and all the crew drowned, and all but one of those rescued drowned also. The 'George Elmy' was found washed up, upside down, on a local beach the next day. It was refurbished, put back into service, and eventually retired and became a fishing boat, like many old Lifeboats. It was restored and returned to Seaham last year, re-entering Seaham Harbour under its own power, returning home since leaving that night in 1962. It is now in the Lifeboat House, home to the East Durham Heritage Centre, as a very fitting memorial to the brave men of Seaham Lifeboat. The centre also has displays and photographs relating to the railways in the area
