TITANIC-TITANIC.com | Titanic Articles: Visit To Belfast's Queen's Island And The Thompson Graving Dock 2005

The photographs on this page were taken by TT regular Robert Smith, who kindly contributed the images to the site for others to see and enjoy. He visited Harland and Wolff in 2005, and managed to record much of the original buildings to film.

Each image can be clicked on to reveal a larger image, which might take time to open on slower connections.

All photographs are © Robert Smith, and may not be used without his permission.

Harland And Wolff's Thompson Graving Dock, Belfast
	Access to the Queen's Island slipway was through this point until recently, but due to the regeneration work now taking place the area has been fenced off and the only way in is through this entry gate.
	This sign is located on the side of the building where the old drawing offices are and where you could until recently gain entry to the slipway.
	This view was taken from the end of the dock where Titanic's bow would have been tethered.
	This view was taken from the same location as the image above, and it shows the pump house buildings located at the side of the dry dock.
	Looking down into the dry dock towards the sea end, the photo doesn't really do justice to the sheer scale of the dock, note the entry steps both sides at the far end.
	Plaque on the side of the dry dock buildings.
	This picture gives you a better idea of the sheer scale and depth of the dock, if you haven't a head for heights it's a scary place!
	Entry steps and chute down to the floor of the dock.
	Close up of the dock entry gates.
	Picture of the entry gates to the dry dock, don't know if they are the original ones from 1911.
	At this point I am standing at the top of the entry steps you see in the photographs above, note the giant Harland and Wolff crane in the background. I wonder how many times the dry dock buildings would have fitted in to the dock itself.
	Looking straight down the steps onto the floor of the dock, I didn't count how many steps but it was a lot!
	Here I now looked down to my right, I don't know if this is where water would have entered when they flooded the dock.
	Now looking along the top of the entry gate. When you stand here this gives you an idea of the size these ships were.
	This picture was taken from the top of the entry steps which go down onto the floor of the dock, that must have looked frightening when the dock was full of water!
	This picture was shot straight over the dock, The wood from the clock tower is now gone as you can see.