Surviving Railway Cranes in Australia

This is just one of a series of pages covering surviving Railway Cranes across the world. Click here for the Index.

Chris Capewell (chriscapewell AT googlemail.com) has provided the following data, he would greatly appreciate additions, corrections and confirmation for data with a yellow background.

We would welcome pictures of cranes in this list which can be used to illustrate the article.

Latest addition:

Glenorchy, Hobart picture (19th February 2012)
Wyndham WA, information and pictures (11th February 2012)
Cockatoo Dockyard, Sydney (2nd November 2011)
NSWGR X10 links and a number of crane tanks. (26th October 2011)
Macquarie Harbour, Strahan, Tasmania (24th October 2011)

Crane Makers:

Appleby = Appleby Brothers, Southwark, London, UK
Bucyrus = Bucyrus Company, South Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA
CS = Cowans, Sheldon and Co, Ltd., Carlisle, UK.
Clarke, Chapman = Clarke, Chapman, Newcastle, UK
Coles = Coles Cranes, Sunderland, UK
Cravens = Cravens Bros., Reddish, Stockport, UK
Davis & Primrose = Davis & Primrose, Leith, UK
Dubs = Dubs & CVo., Glasgow, UK
Grafton = Grafton Cranes, Bedfrod, UK
Harman = Alfred Harman, Port Melbourne, Australia
Harmon = Harmon Crane and Rigging, Kalispell, Montana, USA
HL = Hawthorn Leslie, Newcastle, UK
Industrial Brownhoist = Industrial Brownhoist, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
Industrial Works = Industrial Works, Bay City, Michigan, USA
Jessop & Appleby = Jessop & Appleby, Leicester, UK
Krupp-Ardelt = Krupp-Ardelt, Wilhemshaven, Germany
Lloyds Foster = Lloyds Foster, Wednesbury, UK
Morris = Herbert Morris Ltd, Loughborough, England
Newport = Newport Works, Victorian Railways, Australia
Priestman = Priestman Brothers, Hull, UK
R&R = Ransomes and Rapier, Ipswich, UK
RS&H = Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns, Newcastle, UK
Ruston Hornsby = Ruston & Hornsby, Lincoln, UK.
S&P = Stothert and Pitt, Bath, UK
Tangye = Tangye Brothers, Birmingham, UK
Taylor & Hubbard = Taylor & Hubbard, Leicester UK
TSSR = Thomas Smith and Sons (Rodley) near Leeds, UK
VF = Vulcan Foundry, Newton le Willows, UK

Railways and Others

BHP-N = Broken Hill Proprietary, Newcastle NSW
NSWGR = New South Wales Government Railway
PWD = Public Works Department
QR = Queensland Railways
SAR/SAGR = South Australian (Government) Railway
TR/TGR = Tasmanian (Government) Railway
USATC = United States Army Transportation Corps
VR = Victorian Railways
WAGR = Western Australia Government Railway

Each entry is arranged as follows after the location::

Number

Railway

Gauge

Diesel, Electric
Hand, Steam

Capacity in tons

Wheels

Works Number

Comments

Capital Territory

http://arhsact.org.au/index.php?Itemid=13
Canberra Railway Museum, Kingston

Lo55

NSWGR

S to D

35T

6-4W

R&R B7392/1914

later no. 1055, delivered with excavator bucket for coaling, converted to diesel 1972 See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1055.shtml

New South Wales

The NSWGR had a special class 'X10' for leftover locomotives which included steam cranes and crane tanks - hence the many 10xx numbers below - see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10.html for an introduction (added 26th October 2011, as were a number of links below to individual pages).

http://www.lvr.com.au/
Cowra, Lachlan Valley Railway

LC1157	NSWGR	SG	D	15T	6W	CS /1909	Nno. L456, hand converted to Diesel? Possibly one of CS 3042-44/1908-9 (diagram 7065 ) for NSWGR
-?-				3T	4W		coaling crane, Australian manufacture
1059	NSWGR	SG	S	5T		Harman 1918	Lo34, operational. See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1059.shtml

http://www.dsrm.org.au/
Dorrigo Railway Museum

178	PTC of NSW	SG	H	3?T	4W	Tangye ?/18??
Lo09	NSWGR	SG	S	30T	2-6-2W	Cravens.9158/1911	later no. 1050, see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1050.shtml
Lo36	NSWGR	SG	S	5T	4W	Harman 1918	later no. 1061 Coal Grab, see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1061.shtml
1075	NSWGR	SG	S	4T	4W	Grafton 2192/1923	workshops crane / converted to coal crane 1934 see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1075.shtml
1070	NSWGR	SG	S	7T	4W	Coles/1928	See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1070.shtml
1081	NSWGR	SG	S	50T	4+4W	Industrial Brownhoist /1944	ex USATC, see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1081.shtml
X63	PTC of NSW	SG	D	3T	4W	Taylor & Hubbard ?/1953
-?-	Hexham Engineeringr	SG	S	3?T	4W	Appleby ?/19??
LC 1060	NSWGR	SG	S to D	120T	6+6W	Krupp-Ardelt 204311/1957	converted to Cummins diesel 1991, see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1060b.shtml
1052	NSWGR	SG	S	7T	0-4-0CT	HL 3035/1914	See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1052.shtml
1067	NSWGR	SG	S	7T	0-4-0CT	HL 3564/1923	Dismantled, see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1067.shtml
1067	NSWGR	SG	S	7T	0-4-0CT	HL 3565/1924	Jib transferred to 1052. See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1068.shtml

This picture of 1081 taken in Nov 2010 is © Brian Garvin:

Eveleigh, Advanced Technology Park

1083

NSWGR

0-40CT

RS&H 7543/1950

See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1083.shtml and http://www.australiansteam.com/1083.htm

This 2007 picture by Ray Gardiner shows 1083 stored inside, it is now displayed outside:

Goulborn

-?-	?	?	S	7T	4W	Clarke, Chapman
1072	NSWGR	SG	S to D	70T	2-6-2W	Cravens 12030+12031 +12032/1928?	converted to diesel 1971, reported here by 9th January 2010. See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1072.shtml
1076	NSWGR	SG	S		0-6-0T	VF 995/1885	0-6-0T, converted to crane with jib of 1027 in 1937, converted back 1959. See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1076.shtml and http://www.australiansteam.com/1076.htm

Grafton Depot Last reported 2005 Information required please.

Lo56

NSWGR

S to D

35T

6-4W

R&R B7392/1914

later no. 1056, converted. to diesel 1974?, stored oou, awaiting decision, 2005. See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1056.shtml

http://www.roundhousemuseum.com.au/
Junee Roundhouse Museum

1080

NSWGR

50T

4+4W

Industrial Brownhoist, 7504/1944 ex USATC

to NSWGR 7/47, in use / steamable. See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1080.shtml

http://www.kemblaport.com.au/resources/22/870
Port Kembla Heritage Park

PWD, NSWGovt

30T

CS / 1901

Travelling Tripod Blocklayer

This picture taken in Nov 2010 is © Brian Garvin:

http://www.richmondvalerailwaymuseum.org/
Richmond Vale

2	BHP-N	SG	S	60T	4+4W	Industrial Works 2967/1913
5	BHP-N	SG	S	15T	4+4W	Industrial Works 4146/1920
4	BHP-N	SG	D	5T	4W	Coles / ?
1073	NSWGR	SG	S to D	70T	2-6-2W	Cravens 12030+12031 +12032/1928?	converted to diesel 1968. See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1073.shtml

This picture of 1073 taken in Nov 2010 is © Brian Garvin:

http://www.railpage.com.au/f-t12494.htm
Hunter Valley Railway Trust (Rothbury Riot Museum), Branxton

?? Collection to move to Lithgow in 2012?, Information required please.

Lo07	NSWGR	SG	S	30T	4+4W	CS 3012/1908-09	later no. 1048, see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1048.shtml
1662	NSWGR	SG	D	?4T	4W	Taylor & Hubbard/1940s?	ex Chullora Works
2150	NSWGR	SG	S	3T	4W	Grafton 2150/1925	ex Chullora Works
2151	NSWGR	SG	S	3T	4W	Grafton 2150/1925	ex Chullora Works (jib carries P1010)

This is the Cowans Sheldon crane in Nov 2010 © Brian Garvin

http://www.skillsone.com.au/industry/3/metals--engineering/video/912/restoring-australias-trade-history/
http://www.cockatooisland.gov.au/about/index.html
Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Cockatoo Dockyard

62	Cockatoo Dockyard	SG	S	1T	4W	?TSSR /?1890s
-?-	Cockatoo Dockyard	BG	S	?5T	4W	? /?1890s Quayside
-?-	Cockatoo Dockyard	Fixed	S	?4T	--	Morts Dock /1891
7		3ft or 3ft 6"				Davis & Primrose 1912	Lacks boiler

Bob McKillop has provided the pictures below from an October 2010 visit. He has also provided a set of pictures of the rail mounted dockside cranes which are preserved here )which are strictly not part of this project but are well worthy of some publicity).

7 as restored:

Morts Dock Crane and Boiler

http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/
Sydney, Powerhouse Museum, Castle Hill Discovery Centre

1082

NSWGR

0-40CT

RS&H 7542/1950

See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1082.shtml and http://www.australiansteam.com/1082.htm

http://www.nswrtm.org/
Thirlmere, New South Wales Rail Transport Museum

Lo39	NSWGR	SG	S	3T	4W	Harman 1918	later no. 1064, see http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1064.shtml
-?-	NSWGR	SG	H	10T	6W	CS 1327/1884	one of three for Sydney & Paramatta Rly., latterly at Moree, nicknamed 'HERNIA'.
30	BHP, Port Kembla	SG	D	70/80T	4+4W	Brownhoist /ca 1960
1034	NSWGR	SG	S	4T	0-4-0CT	Dubs 2250/1866	See http://www.australiansteam.com/1034.htm and http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1034.shtml
(1077)	NSWGR	SG	S	4T?	0-6-0T ex 0-6-0CT	VF 944/1884	Carries the original 1803. Converted to CT and renumbered 1937, converted back 1945. See http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10/1077.shtml and http://www.australiansteam.com/1803.htm

Queensland

Claremont, Blair Athol Coal Mine

1927 Ruston No. 6 crawler mounted revolving steam shovel.

Cloncurry, Mary Kathleen Memorial Park

-?-

3'6"

4+4W

? / 189?

http://www.theworkshops.qm.qld.gov.au
Ipswich Railway Museum, The Workshops Rail Museum

4	QR	3'6"	D	16T	4+4W	Krupp-Ardelt /1967
-?-	QR	3'6"	D	40T	6+6W	CS 128/1961

http://www.truelocal.com.au/business/rosewood-railway-museum-kunkala-railway/ashwell
Kunkala, Rosewood Railway Museum

5665	QR	3'6"	H	3?/5T	4W	CS 1078/1881
431	QR	3’6”	S	15T	6-4W	R&R B7114/1914
1	QR	3'6"	D	16T	4+4W	Krupp-Ardelt /1967

http://www.qpsr.net/
Swanbank, Queensland Pioneer Steam Railway

5666

3'6"

CS 10??/1881

Northern Territory

Darwin, Palmerston

34??

SAR(N)

3'6"

?5/10T

CS 1407/1885

now four wheel, no jib

South Australia

http://www.natrailmuseum.org.au/
Adelaide, Port Dock, National Railway Museum

3	SAR	3'6"	S to D	60T	4+4W	CS 4470/1925	converted to 5'3" 1929, converted to diesel ?1972
old no.3 / 2327	SAR	5'3"	H	5T	4W	CS 1129/1881

Echuca, Tod Watson Machinery & Steel

Probably moved to Albury, where the collection was auctioned off in April 2011?

?166

6'0"

Priestman

Crane/grab, possibly ex river quay?.

http://www.steamranger.org.au/
Mount Barker, Steamranger Heritage Railway

SAR

5'3"

?5T

SAR Islington Works / 1921?

Port Augusta, Homestead Park, Pioneer Museum

CR/SAGR

30T

R&R B6879/1913

Imported via Agents - John Birch and Co., via Leslie and Co., Perth, W.A.

http://www.prr.org.au/cms/index.php
Quorn, Pichi Richi Railway

4887

SAR(PL)

3'6"

CS 3242/1913

Departmental withdrawn 8/1970 ) unsprung yard crane ex Port Lincoln Division.

http://members.iinet.net.au/~hoppi/RuralLife.html
Robinvale Rural Life Museum, S. A.

Hawke, Kapunda, S.A., approx 3'6" gauge, 4W, ?5T, self propelled diesel powered conversion of hand crane, ex Euston Weir, Murray River Commissioners

Tasmania

http://www.railtasmania.com/ttms/
Tasmanian Railway Museum, Glenorchy

3'6"

S&P ? /c.1888

These 2011 pictures are courtesy of John Kramer:

http://www.donriverrailway.com.au/
Don River Railway, Devonport

TGR

3'6"

10T

4+4W

CS 1552/1887

CS diagram 2205

Hobart, Constitution Dock, Tasmanian Heritage Council

Quayside crane, broad gauge, 8W, Jessop and Appleby / 1906, see http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_zjxDM-izfK4/TTqALCflA8I/AAAAAAAAPpk/v4f-5W9ofJo/s1600/IMG_5078.JPG. James Parnell adds that it was last used in 1954 according to government boiler records.

Macquarie Harbour, Strahan (added 24th October 2010)

3'6"

Grafton 387 ca 1892

Derelict, http://static.panoramio.com/photos/original/55197430.jpg

James Parnell adds that it was last used in about 1957. These are James Day's photographs:

Victoria

http://www.lakegoldsmithsteamrally.org.au/
Lake Goldsmith, Lake Goldsmith Steam Preservation Society near Beaufort.

-?-	VR	5'3"	S	5T	4W	TSSR /192?
-?-	VR	5'3"	H	6T	4W	Lloyds Foster, ?/1879
						Ruston Hornsby, /1923	No. 4 Australian Portland Cement Company Limited, Fyansford (Geelong) Quarry, Face Shovel
Bucyrus / 1903 model 65C rail mounted non-rotating steam shovel.							Formerly at Geelong, http://www.flickr.com/photos/heritage_victoria/with/4537404818/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Echuca_Wharf
Echucha Historic Wharf

K279

5'3"

?2T

?Rawlings, Melbourne 1874

Melbourne, Yarraville Sugar Refinery, Sugar Australia

SACo

Jessop & Appleby ?/ca.1909

http://museumvictoria.com.au/scienceworks/
Spotswood, Melbourne, Scienceworks Museum

Z526

5'3"

0-6-0T ex 0-6-0CT

Newport 1893

Converted to CT 1903 and converted back again 1983

http://www.arhsvic.org.au/content/contact-arhs-railway-museum
North Williamstown, Newport

5'3"

60T

4+4W

Newport 1942

Ordered circa 1929 from Cowans, Sheldon, based on 1925 LNER 45 Ton bogie-type upgraded to 60 Tons, as needed for the new VR larger locos. Drawings and castings sent out; with structural components to be supplied by Newport Works. Construction cancelled due to depression. Remained un-built until WW2.

36	VR	5'3"	S	5T	4W	TSSR 11003/1929	Withdrawn 1981, supplied via Agents - Gibson, Battle, Melbourne
73	VR	5'3"	H	6T	4W	Lloyds Foster, /1879
K???	VR	5'3"	H	?2T	4W	Rawlings, Melbourne 1890	ex Geelong Loco. Depot
2	VR	5'3"	S	5T	0-6-0CT	Dubs 2711/1890

Western Australia

http://www.railheritagewa.org.au/museum/museum.htm
Bassendean Railway Museum, Perth

3	WAGR	3’6”	S	10T	6W	R&R 773/1897	Unsprung yard crane, ex Midland Works.
7	WAGR	3’6”	H	7T	6W	CS 2073/1896

PWD -?- Hand crane, possibly R&R, ex Freemantle Wharf, jib marked HR (upArrow) PWD, upper works only

http://www.collectionsaustralia.net/org/1279/about/
Boyanup Museum of Transportation and Rural Industries

-?- unidentified steam ( travelling or platform? ) crane, 3T, stated as ex Bunbury Yard.

PWD 43

PWD

3'6"

2.5T

TSSR 20347/1952?

Port Headland, BHP

-?-

WAGR

3'6"

CS 2075/1896

http://www.pemtram.com.au/
Pemberton Tramway

WAGR

3'6"

S to D-CA

60T

6+6W

CS 9712/1953

converted to diesel/compressed air operation retaining original cylinders, in daily use

Pilbarra, Marble Bar

-?- dumped crane, possibly TSSR.

http://www.hothamvalleyrailway.com.au/
Pinjarra, Hotham Valley Railway

26	WAGR	3'6"	S	5T	6W	R&R 6307/1912	One of an order for 3 cranes (numbered by batch)
23	WAGR	3'6"	S	25T	2-6-2W	Cravens.9221/1912	for Agent General WA

See the ‘bottom’ end of this entry ……. http://steam-locomotives-south-africa.blogspot.com/search/label/%3D%20Craven%20steam%20crane%20%3F%3F%3F%3F%2F1921

http://www.whitemanpark.com.au/attractions/whiteman-explorer.aspx
Perth, Whiteman Park

Bucyrus 14B / 68267A c. 1910?

excavator

Stated, but not confirmed, to have been used on Trans Australia Railway construction, Whiteman Collection, owned by the Western Australian Planning Commission

Wyndham, site of disused Vestey Meat Packing Works

-?-	PWD	3’6”	S	?5T	4W	Jessop & Appleby	No recent reports
-?-	PWD	3’6”	S	?3T	4-4W?	Morris	No recent reports

These 1992 pictures are courtesy of Jeff Austin, left Jessop & Appleby, right Morris.:

Thanks to:

Chris West, Chris Appleby, Ivor Harding, Brian Garvin, Brian Manktelow, Ray Schofield, Dave Rollins, Ron Fluck, Ian Barkla, Brian Williams, Ray Ellis, Stephen Tolhurst (see his website regarding NSWGR X10 http://www-personal.usyd.edu.au/~stephen/trains/X10.html), Bruce Evans, Bruce Ward, Jeff Austin.