Surviving Railway Cranes in New Zealand

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.

Latest addition (3rd April 2012) is a set of 2012 pictures from Kevin Hoggett.

Builders

CS = Cowans Sheldon and Co, Ltd., Carlisle, UK
Cravens = Cravens Bros., Reddish, Stockport, UK
Marion = Marion Power Shovel Company, Marion, Ohio, USA
R&R = Ransomes and Rapier, Ipswich, UK
S&P = Stothert and Pitt, Bath, UK

Railways

NZ(G)R = New Zealand (Government) Railway

A good web site on preserved New Zealand rail equipment is http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/, the cranes are under "Wagons".

Each entry below is arranged as follows after the location - for an explanation of 'Register Number' please see http://www.nzrcranes.org/numbers.html:

Railway

Diesel, Hand, Steam

Capacity in tons

Wheels

Works Number

Comments

North Island

http:/www.motat.org.nz/
Auckland, Museum of Transport Technology and Social History (MOTAT)

283	NZGR	H	5T	6W	R&R ?/1874,	http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_25.jpg
338						Western Springs Railway, Coaling Crane

http://www.bushtramwayclub.com/
Rotowaro, Huntly, Bush Tramway Club

293	NZGR	H	5T	4W	R&R ?/1874	originally on 6W frame, rebuilt at Rotowaru on 4W wagon frame. http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_29.jpg
225	NZR	S	10T	4+4W	CS 6112/1937	later ELS 104 3, OOU, some doubt as to its future 2010., http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_18.jpg
256	NZGR	S	7T	4+4W	CS 4425/1925	later ELS 50 6, OOU, some doubt as to its future 2010., http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_21.jpg

225 in October 2010, © Brian Garvin

256 in October 2010, © Brian Garvin

http://www.railfan.org.nz/
Glenbrook Vintage Railway

224	NZR	S	10T	4+4W	CS 6056/1936	with pile driving jib, later ELS 102 8, in use 2010
276	NZGR	H	5T	6W	R&R? ?/1879	http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_23.jpg

Hutt Works, TRANZRAIL

EL 600 2	NZR	D	60T	4-6+6-4RB	CS/NEI-CC 31658/1979	named “TWEETY”, Palmerston N. (1980-94), in use TRANZRAIL 2009.
EL 601 9	NZR	D	60T	4-6+6-4RB	CS/NEI-CC 31659/1979	named “SPEEDY", Hamilton (1981-94), in use TRANZRAIL until 2005 when fell in river and has not been recommissioned.

http://www.silverstreamrailway.org.nz/
Hutt Valley. Silver Stream Railway

124	NZR	S	15T	6-4W	R&R F2122-8/1944	in use, later ELS 159 9, http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_1672.jpg
163 or 164	NZR	S	?5T	6W	Whitaker Bros., Leeds, ca.1904	Steam Shovel, OOU

This is Kevin Hoggett's 2012 picture:

http://pspt.wellington.net.nz/
Paekakariki, Craven Crane Preservation Group

200

NZGR

40T

2-6-2W

Cravens, CF57/28474 / 1936

later ELS 400 7, under restoration to working condition, http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_16.jpg

Taumarunui, T.R.A.C.S.

226

NZR

10T

4+4W

CS 6363 /1937

later ELS 101 5, under restoration

http://www.tokomarusteam.com/
Tokomaru Steam Engine Museum

?	?	S	?T	4+4W	Marion 960/19??	Shovel
?	?				Browning	http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_1426.jpg

http://www.steaminc.org.nz/
Steam Incorporated. Paekakriki

313

Coaling Crane

http://www.steamrailwanganui.co.nz/
Wanganui, Steamrail

120

NZGR

Hillside Works 1904

crane works by Jessops and Appleby

http://www.steamnorth.org.nz/index.html
Whangarei Steam & Model Railway Club (Confirmation required)

-?-

NZGR

?5T

CS ?/?1924

South Island

http://www.gasworksmuseum.org.nz/
Dunedin Gasworks Museum

Steam powered, crawler shovel. Ruston No. 10 works 1031 /193?

www.ferrymead.org.nz/
Ferrymead Heritage Park, near Christchurch

227	NZR	S	10T	4+4W	CS 6364 /1937	later ELS 103 0, http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_20.jpg
277	NZGR	H	5T	6W	R&R? ?/?1879	http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_24.jpg
291	NZMR	H	3.5T	4W	Grafton & Co	after 1886

These are Kevin Hoggett's 2012 pictures of 277 and 291:

http://www.shantytown.co.nz/
Greymouth, Shanty Town Heritage Park

822?.		H	2T	4W	Probably R&R	timber frame, http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_26.jpg
-?-	Greymouth Harbour Board	S	?5T	4W	S&P /1908	http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_1428.jpg
322						Coaling Crane

http://www.oamaru-steam.org.nz/
Oamaru Steam and Rail Association (updated 21st January 2011)

-?-

Oamaru Port

11'0" gauge steam quarry crane

S&P C7600/1926

http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_1430.jpg
See http://www.tdkv.com/en/aggregator/sources/19?page=3 which shows it being moved to a themed playground at nearby Friendly Bay in 2011.

These are Kevin Hoggett's 2012 pictures of this unusual dual gauge crane::

http://www.obr.org.nz/
Ocean Beach Railway, near Dunedin

287	NZGR	H	5T	6W	R&R ?/1874	http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_27.jpg
356						Coaling Crane

http://www.flickriver.com/photos/martin-james/355766431/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Port_Craig,_New_Zealand
Port Craig, Waitutu National Forest

-?-

Marlborough Timber Co.

?5T

?4W

Priestman /1920s

very dumped, and isolated!

http://www.plainsrailway.co.nz/
Tinwald, near Ashburton, The Plains Vintage Railway and Historical Museum

-?-	?	H	2T	4W	Probably R&R	curved jib, http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_36.jpg
		S			Whittiker/Marion	Oamaru Harbour Board, http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_1429.jpg

These are Kevin Hoggett's 2012 pictures of these cranes:

Waimea Plains, NE of Invercargill (stored at unknown location)

142

NZGR

?4W

NZR Hillside /1907

http://www.wekapassrailway.co.nz
Weka Pass Railway

EL 100 7

10T

4+4W

R&R F5637/1943

Old no. 197, http://www.nzrsr.co.nz/images/big_1777.jpg

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS:

Philip Treweeks and his excellent and totally comprehensive website, including pneumatic coaling cranes! www.nzrcranes.org/survivors.html
W.Prebble
D.M.Cole
NZRLS
Dave Rollins
Bruce Ward
Peter Tatlow