Difference between revisions of "GWR 446 6Ton Hand Crane"

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==Preservation==
 
==Preservation==
 
[[File:GWR446.16.01.88.jpg|thumb|300px|right |GWR Crane 446 in use at Bewdley in 1988]] [[File:GWR_446_20150322.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Stored in the Stourport Triangle in 2015]]
 
[[File:GWR446.16.01.88.jpg|thumb|300px|right |GWR Crane 446 in use at Bewdley in 1988]] [[File:GWR_446_20150322.jpg|thumb|300px|right|Stored in the Stourport Triangle in 2015]]
 +
[[File:GWR 446 plan.jpeg|thumb|300px|right |Blueprint of 446]]
 
The crane arrived on the SVR on 6 December 1982 from Bristol, having been acquired by [[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund]]. A small amount of work was carried out in 1983 in order to make it fit for an insurance inspection.<ref>SVR News 71</ref> It was photographed at Bewdley in 1987,<ref name=SVRN86/> although by 1998 it had yet to be restored and was stored at Kidderminster.<ref name=SB9/><ref>GWR813.org</ref>
 
The crane arrived on the SVR on 6 December 1982 from Bristol, having been acquired by [[The GWR 813 Preservation Fund]]. A small amount of work was carried out in 1983 in order to make it fit for an insurance inspection.<ref>SVR News 71</ref> It was photographed at Bewdley in 1987,<ref name=SVRN86/> although by 1998 it had yet to be restored and was stored at Kidderminster.<ref name=SB9/><ref>GWR813.org</ref>
  

Revision as of 23:30, 30 March 2019

GWRGreat Western Railway 446 6Ton Hand Crane
GWR 446 and B707261 20190323.jpg
GWRGreat Western Railway 6Tons Hand Crane 446
Built By GWRGreat Western Railway Swindon
Status Awaiting restoration
Number 446
Other Numbers ADW 446, I/U 060982
History
Built 1896
Diagram H
1982 Arrived on SVRSevern Valley Railway

Goods Wagons

GWRGreat Western Railway hand crane 446 was built at Swindon in 1896 and had a 3 ton capacity while moving slowly, or 6 tons while stationary with the outriggers extended.[1] This type of crane was a common sight in large yards, where they would be used for transhipping defective wagons and lifting heavy spare parts. They would also travel to smaller stations as required to load and unload wagons where there was no suitable fixed crane.

A large crank handle was used to raise and lower the crane’s hook. By attaching the hook back on to the crane itself (as seen in the picture to the right), it could also be used to raise and lower the jib. Once the jib was at the required height, locking pins would be put in and the hook detached to be used for lifting. Therefore, it was not possible to alter the height or radius of the jib while a load was on the hook[2].

Service

The crane saw service the GWRGreat Western Railway and later with BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W).[2] It carried the DepartmentalRolling stock used for the railway’s own functions (engineering etc.) rather than for general passenger or goods traffic. number ADW 446[3] and was also given the Internal UserRolling stock used for the railway’s internal purposes (stores etc.) at one fixed location. number I/U 060982[4].

Preservation

GWRGreat Western Railway Crane 446 in use at Bewdley in 1988
Stored in the Stourport Triangle in 2015
Blueprint of 446

The crane arrived on the SVRSevern Valley Railway on 6 December 1982 from Bristol, having been acquired by The GWR 813 Preservation Fund. A small amount of work was carried out in 1983 in order to make it fit for an insurance inspection.[5] It was photographed at Bewdley in 1987,[3] although by 1998 it had yet to be restored and was stored at Kidderminster.[2][6]

The last photograph shows the crane in March 2015 situated in the ‘Stourport Triangle’, the junction of the Stourport Branch and the present day SVRSevern Valley Railway south of Bewdley. In January 2019 it was announced that the crane was to move to Arley for cosmetic restoration as a static display. The crane is paired with Crane Runner 707261, a modified BRBritish Rail or British Railways ConflatGWR telegraphic code signifying a flat wagon for containers, which will be swapped with a GWRGreat Western Railway flat wagon that will better suit the crane.[7] In March 2019 the crane and runner were moved to Bewdley (top picture).

See also

List of cranes

References

  1. The cast iron plate on the crane gives the maximum lift as 6 tons. www.vintagecarriagestrust.org and www.gwr813.org both give the maximum lift as 6t 16cwt
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book Ninth Edition
  3. 3.0 3.1 SVRSevern Valley Railway News 86
  4. Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey
  5. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 71
  6. GWR813.org
  7. SVRSevern Valley Railway Wagons Facebook 13 January 2019

Links

GWR 446 on www.vintagecarriagestrust.org
GWR 446 on gwr813.org