Sailing Ships At Coal Loading Wharves, Ladysmith

The ‘Big’ Wharf is on the left with the coal bunkers in the background. The ‘T’ Wharf is on the right. The sailing ships moored to take on coal were a hangover from the days of sail and were soon to be replaced by steamships. Note the rail system atop the wharf to bring loaded coal cars alongside the ships; also, the chutes extending from the wharf to the ship, which were used to transfer coal from the coal cars by gravity to the ship’s hold.