When jobs were plentyful

Name the ships then!
BP tanker at Doxford's but there were quite a few .... mid engined freighter ahead of it.

Pickersgills yard commenced modernisation in 1956, so the photo predated that, so that narrows it down to about 14 BP tankers, but didn't at least one BP tanker return to Doxfords for crankshaft replacement or have I got that altogether wrong?
Is that not another ship on the port side of the tanker against the fitting out quay? The 100 ton fitting out quay steam crane would be a long way off the taker if not. The berth in the west yard is still in use.

This picture shows how hemmed in the shipyard was. Although the Bridge was built a few years after Doxfords "new" yard, (new in 1901), it limited Doxfords in several ways. Doxfords was built on a steep hillside and even the new, (1970s), yard had to have a hairpin bend in the descending road. The main road to Pallion prevented any development southwards and the stock yard for the 1900 yard was on the other side of that road to and from which a fleet of small steam locomotives hauled steel plates under the road right up to the 1970s. The legendary Steels bank the scene of many haulages of Doxford engine sections by huge Pickfords trucks that had a sharp left turn at the top of the band then Steel (Coles), Cranes, at Low Pallion prevented development westwards as did Shorts yard next site along the river from Doxfords. At its conception the yard would be called on to build smaller ships that it could mange easily, but as time went on it meant that Doxfrods were limited to ships up to about 25,000dwt.The new covered in dock was unsatisfactory in many ways, but it must have been a headache for those charge with designing and building it. Credit to thousands who achieved so much for so long within the limitations.

A picture to complement Tony's Pallion and Southwick. I don't know where it came from, I've had it for a long time. Apologies if it "belongs" to anyone. The ship is one of Doxford's famous, some would say Infamous), turret ships, Haigh Hall, yard number 397 for the Haigh Hall S.S.Co. Doxford steam engine. The Tug will no doubt fascinate someone in particular and it is co-equal with the other members of this "trinity," The bridge, the launch, the tug. Compliments to the photographer, long gone, who took the picture on 16th June 1908

I have tried over the years,I think its around 1950(BP & Hains) at Picky's ALFA?.Tom the BP tanker you refer to is BRITISH BUILDER towed from Aus to the UK by various BP tankers.

Great launch photo. Lots of detail.

Tug looks very much like AGAMEMNON

http://www.tynetugs.co.uk/agamemnon1872.html

Tony, if it's ALFA lch/comp 03/49 - 07/49 then the Hain if that's what it is could be any of the 3 launched in Dec 48 or first 3 months of 1949 TRELYON, TRELAWNY, TRELISSICK, TRELEVAN and the BP would be LIBERTY or LOYALTY comp. 05/49 and 07/49.
But I was thinking the Pickersgill might be HENDRIK comp 10/46 or NEFERTITI 02/48 or HENZEE 08/48, as size and cross-trees match, HENDRIK would throw it back to the larger group of 5 BP's of 1946 but there was no Hain to fit that period. How about LA CORDILLERA prior to getting her white band?

The bridge of the cargo ship is different on the BM ships plus the white band would have been put on before launching.It looks like the last ship on Doxfords West yard slips.(what was it?)HENZEE and ALFA were sister ships and had two deck accommodation as in the photo.

Whickham wrote:Great launch photo. Lots of detail.

Tug looks very much like AGAMEMNON

http://www.tynetugs.co.uk/agamemnon1872.html

Yes, it looks identical, thanks for that.