Difference between revisions of "Smiths, Rodley DW35 6-ton steam crane"

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[[File: DW35_20150307.jpg |thumb|200px|right| Smiths, Rodley 6 ton crane DW35 and crane runner DW75]]
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[[File: DW35_20150307.jpg |thumb|300px|right| Smiths, Rodley 6 ton crane DW35 and crane runner DW75 (Highley 2015)]]
DW35 is a 6-ton capacity crane, built by Smiths of Rodley, Leeds in 1949 for BR(W). The crane was mostly used at Radyr before being declared surplus to requirements at Swindon.  Since arrival on the SVR in 1974 it has been used for Permanent Way work up and down the line.  It acquired the nickname Toby Jiblets, which originated with Tommy Smyth, the redoubtable P.W. foreman for many years<ref>[http://forum.svra.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1157 SVR forum]</ref>.
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'''DW35''' is a 6-ton capacity steam crane, built by Smiths of Rodley, Leeds in 1949 for BR(W). The crane was mostly used at Radyr before being declared surplus to requirements at Swindon.   
  
The crane is paired with Crane Jib Runner DW75, which was built by the GWR at Swindon in 1927 for an earlier steam crane.
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==Preservation==
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DW35’s predecessor, 2&frac12;-ton capacity ex-GWR steam crane [[GWR RS38]], was used for engineering duties from 1968 until after the opening of the SVR in 1970.<ref>SVR Stock Book Fourth Edition</ref>  DW35, with its greater 6-ton capacity, was acquired by the SVR in 1974 (the year services extended to [[Bewdley]]), arriving from Swindon on 31 May together with its crane runner match truck.<ref>SVR Stock Book Fifth Edition</ref>  By winter of that year it was in use for permanent way work, having been "''rejuvenated by the provision of a new boiler''".<ref>SVR News 34</ref> One if its first tasks was the considerable changes made in both track layout and position of signals at Bewdley that winter,<ref>SVR News 35</ref> followed by the completion of [[Arley|Arley loop]] in spring 1975.<ref>SVR News 36</ref> It soon became "the steam crane", with RS38 leaving in 1978.
  
==Sources==
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Over the following years, DW35 continued in regular service on Permanent Way work up and down the line.  It acquired the nickname ''Toby Jiblets'' which originated with Tommy Smyth, the redoubtable P.W. foreman for many years<ref>[https://forum.svr-online.org.uk/viewtopic.php?t=1157 SVR forum]</ref>. It was used on a number of major infrastructure projects, such as the refurbishment of [[Cleobury Road Bridge]] in winter 1978-79.<ref>SVR News 50</ref> More routine work included the relaying of sleepers although, due to the crane's limited reach, it could only lay in half the sleepers in a 60ft length with the rest being lifted and dragged in by hand. In 1982 this resulted in the first use of a tractor fitted with a hydraulic arm,<ref>SVR News 63</ref> foreshadowing the more recent use of [[Other rolling stock#On track plant|On-track Plant such as Road-Railers]].
Railway Heritage Register Wagon Survey<br>
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Severn Valley Railway Stock Book Eighth Edition<br>
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DW35 was used on another major infrastructure project, the installation of [[Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge]], during which it became the first vehicle to cross it on 27 February 1983.<ref>SVR News 67</ref>  The following year it played a major role in [[The development of Kidderminster Town Station|the construction and opening of Kidderminster station]].<ref>SVR News 73</ref> On 31 July 1994 it scored another 'first' by becoming the first item of rolling stock to be turned on the newly installed [[Kidderminster Turntable]].
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Use on permanent way and similar work continued well into the new millennium, for example helping with a major clear up at Kidderminster Carriage Shed in 2006 ahead of the opening of the new carriage washing plant.<ref>SVR News 156</ref> It was also used after the [[2007 Storm Damage]]; a picture of DW35 carrying out repair work at [[Highley]] appears on the front cover of [[Bibliography#Books|Phil Sowden’s publication 'The story of the Big Flood']]. However in recent years, lighter work of the type it used to carry out has been taken over by [[Other rolling stock#On track plant|On-track Plant such as Road-Railers]], with occasional heavier lifts being carried out by the [[Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane]]. Consequently {{As of|2020|lc=y}} DW35 is stored in the siding at [[Eardington]], with the Presentation Committee exploring options to restore it.<ref>SVR News 211</ref>
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The crane is paired with '''Crane Jib Runner DW75''', which was built by the GWR at Swindon in 1927 for an earlier steam crane.
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==See also==
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[[Other_rolling_stock#Cranes_and_jib_runners | List of cranes]]
  
 
==References==
 
==References==
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==Links==
 
==Links==
[http://www.gwr813.org/DW35.htm DW35 on gwr813.org]<br>
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*[http://www.ws.rhrp.org.uk/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7498 Crane runner DW 75 on Railway Heritage Register On-Line]
[http://www.ws.vintagecarriagestrust.org/ws/WagonInfo.asp?Ref=7480 PO 2686 on vintagecarriagestrust.org]<br>
 
  
==See also==
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[[Category: Rolling stock owned by SVR(H)]]
[[Goods Wagons | List of goods wagons]]
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[[Category:Featured articles]]

Latest revision as of 10:47, 23 September 2023

Smiths, Rodley 6 ton crane DW35 and crane runner DW75 (Highley 2015)

DW35 is a 6-ton capacity steam crane, built by Smiths of Rodley, Leeds in 1949 for BRBritish Rail or British Railways(W). The crane was mostly used at Radyr before being declared surplus to requirements at Swindon.

Preservation

DW35’s predecessor, 2½-ton capacity ex-GWRGreat Western Railway steam crane GWR RS38, was used for engineering duties from 1968 until after the opening of the SVRSevern Valley Railway in 1970.[1] DW35, with its greater 6-ton capacity, was acquired by the SVRSevern Valley Railway in 1974 (the year services extended to Bewdley), arriving from Swindon on 31 May together with its crane runner match truck.[2] By winter of that year it was in use for permanent way work, having been "rejuvenated by the provision of a new boiler".[3] One if its first tasks was the considerable changes made in both track layout and position of signals at Bewdley that winter,[4] followed by the completion of Arley loop in spring 1975.[5] It soon became "the steam crane", with RS38 leaving in 1978.

Over the following years, DW35 continued in regular service on Permanent Way work up and down the line. It acquired the nickname Toby Jiblets which originated with Tommy Smyth, the redoubtable P.W.Permanent Way foreman for many years[6]. It was used on a number of major infrastructure projects, such as the refurbishment of Cleobury Road Bridge in winter 1978-79.[7] More routine work included the relaying of sleepers although, due to the crane's limited reach, it could only lay in half the sleepers in a 60ft length with the rest being lifted and dragged in by hand. In 1982 this resulted in the first use of a tractor fitted with a hydraulic arm,[8] foreshadowing the more recent use of On-track Plant such as Road-Railers.

DW35 was used on another major infrastructure project, the installation of Bridgnorth Bypass Bridge, during which it became the first vehicle to cross it on 27 February 1983.[9] The following year it played a major role in the construction and opening of Kidderminster station.[10] On 31 July 1994 it scored another 'first' by becoming the first item of rolling stock to be turned on the newly installed Kidderminster Turntable.

Use on permanent way and similar work continued well into the new millennium, for example helping with a major clear up at Kidderminster Carriage Shed in 2006 ahead of the opening of the new carriage washing plant.[11] It was also used after the 2007 Storm Damage; a picture of DW35 carrying out repair work at Highley appears on the front cover of Phil Sowden’s publication 'The story of the Big Flood'. However in recent years, lighter work of the type it used to carry out has been taken over by On-track Plant such as Road-Railers, with occasional heavier lifts being carried out by the Cowans Sheldon 30-ton steam crane. Consequently as of 2020 DW35 is stored in the siding at Eardington, with the Presentation Committee exploring options to restore it.[12]

The crane is paired with Crane Jib Runner DW75, which was built by the GWRGreat Western Railway at Swindon in 1927 for an earlier steam crane.

See also

List of cranes

References

  1. SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book Fourth Edition
  2. SVRSevern Valley Railway Stock Book Fifth Edition
  3. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 34
  4. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 35
  5. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 36
  6. SVR forum
  7. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 50
  8. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 63
  9. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 67
  10. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 73
  11. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 156
  12. SVRSevern Valley Railway News 211

Links