Meadow Lane gas holder painting.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 10:55 am

Just recently the 2 gasholders on Meadow Lane have been very well down indicating for one reason or another a lack of pressure or use.Incidentally,a local Hunslet firm-Clayton,Son & Co were well known manufacturers of gasometers but I know not whether they were involved in any of the Leeds structures.Claytons,of course,closed many moons ago but I did manage to capture some good external images(and nearby H.Berry's) prior to their demise.Just got to remember where they are now..????

geoffb · Post by **geoffb** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 11:07 am

somme1916 wrote: Just recently the 2 gasholders on Meadow Lane have been very well down indicating for one reason or another a lack of pressure or use.Incidentally,a local Hunslet firm-Clayton,Son & Co were well known manufacturers of gasometers but I know not whether they were involved in any of the Leeds structures.Claytons,of course,closed many moons ago but I did manage to capture some good external images(and nearby H.Berry's) prior to their demise.Just got to remember where they are now..???? They will be grounded for maintenance, testing of limit switches most probably. Claytons built those 2 holders in the early 60s. We used Claytons to carry out internal maintenance and repairs. The holders were grounded then purged with nitrogen then vented with fresh air. The inspection covers removed then a boat was put inside which floated on the tank water surface inside. not a job for clostrophics.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 11:13 am

geoffb wrote: somme1916 wrote: Just recently the 2 gasholders on Meadow Lane have been very well down indicating for one reason or another a lack of pressure or use.Incidentally,a local Hunslet firm-Clayton,Son & Co were well known manufacturers of gasometers but I know not whether they were involved in any of the Leeds structures.Claytons,of course,closed many moons ago but I did manage to capture some good external images(and nearby H.Berry's) prior to their demise.Just got to remember where they are now..???? They will be grounded for maintenance, testing of limit switches most probably. Claytons built those 2 holders in the early 60s. We used Claytons to carry out internal maintenance and repairs. The holders were grounded then purged with nitrogen then vented with fresh air. The inspection covers removed then a boat was put inside which floated on the tank water surface inside. not a job for clostrophics. Cheers geooff...I did wonder on both points !!!!!Good stuff.

somme1916 · Post by **somme1916** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 11:18 am

geoffb: geoff...of course-slip of the old digits my friend !

Tyke · Post by **Tyke** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 11:31 am

Hi Geoff I used to work for the “High Silver” gang at Meadow Lane and I remember the hole that Number 2 at Meadow Lane left and I think it was a shame that the works couldn’t be preserved I remember it was like going back to Victorian Times. Talking about climbing holders I had the job of purging the holders at Meadow Lane from towns to natural gas, for about 15 hours I had to manually fill one then climb to the top of the other to vent the gas the reverse the process.They wont need the storage now until next winter so the Meadow Lane holders will be lowered until they are needed.

geoffb · Post by **geoffb** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 1:18 pm

TykeI worked at Meadow Lane from 1971 to 1974 when the works closed.I was shift engineer for the last 2 years of operation. Dont remember the high silver gang, eas that with Maurice Wilson and co. I remember the PIM gang who maintained the Reforming plants in the summer shut down, now they were a hard working bunch of lads who played hard as well. Could tell some tales about that lot!

Tyke · Post by **Tyke** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 1:22 pm

Do the names Frank Dodsworth or Walt Raddings ring any bells

geoffb · Post by **geoffb** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 1:55 pm

Tyke wrote: Do the names Frank Dodsworth or Walt Raddings ring any bells Yes I remember them, were they based at Great Wilson Street. Frank was the governor engineer, worked with him on Stainburn Square holder when we decommissioned it. I went to college with 2 lads from Gt Wilson Street, was the top man called Mike Whitelock.

Tyke · Post by **Tyke** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 3:56 pm

Yep thats him and Mr Whitelock. Mr Whitelock interviewed me in 1970 for an apprentiship with the governor dept, I call him Mr because he was a very fair and pleasent boss and he deserved respect.

geoffb · Post by **geoffb** » Sat 21 Apr, 2012 5:24 pm

Small world. Did you know Dennis Triggle, I worked with him for a few years in the 80s. On the High Pressure "bullets" at Wakefield