Volume Ten - Pre-Victorian to the Present Day - Even more aspects - 1911 - The Penarth Dock of the Taff Vale Railway - Railway News Article . . .

It is fitted with steam capstans at each end, cranes and powerful pumping machinery, and is thoroughly equipped with all the latest appliances ; it is placed in the Penarth Dock itself, and is capable of dry-docking vessels up to 420 ft. in length, 58 ft. beam, and of 20 ft. draft of water, having a displacement of 4,500 tons. The dock has all its machinery self-contained. Steam can be got up from cold water in half-an-hour, and an average size vessel can be dry-docked in thirty minutes. Vessels can be docked or undocked on the pontoon dock at any hour of the day or night, irrespective of tides and without the assistance of tugs.

New works are being constructed in conjunction with the pontoon dock, and will be fitted with the most modern machinery and lifting appliances for the expeditious handling of materials between the pontoon and the works. The new works and offices are situated in proximity to the pontoon dock, and are most conveniently placed, being within a few minutes walk of the Penarth Dock Station on the Taff Vale Railway and station on the Barry Railway. The advantageous position of both the works of this Company will enable them to undertake repairs of any magnitude with the greatest possible dispatch.

Lighting.

The dock is lighted by powerful electric lights by means of which the work of the dock, which commences at 6 a.m. on Monday and continues until Saturday night, may be carried on uninterruptedly.

Penarth Harbour.

Penarth or Ely Tidal Harbour is also under the control of the Taff Vale Railway Company, and, like Penarth Dock, is directly connected with its railway and the general railway system of the country. It has a water frontage on the north side of 13,000 ft., and on the south or dock side of 3,000 ft. The water area is about 55 acres.

There are six hydraulic tips on the north side of the harbour, each capable of shipping 200 tons per hour ; vessels not exceeding 800 tons burthen take the ground at low water, and can be loaded with safety in that position.