Thinking back to the 'End of Steam' thread from earlier this year, I was wondering when BR ceased to use steam-powered cranes. Does anyone know? There was certainly one at Stewarts Lane in the 1980s -- I remember seeing it in action 'for real' clearing up after a derailment* at Clapham Junction in about 1982 or 1983, and being demonstrated at an open day in about 1988.
http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/cranes/cranesworld.htm indicates that there are, or at least were within the past few years, some still in use in a few countries around the world.
*Some wagons had derailed, and at least one overturned if I remember rightly, on the junction at the country end of platforms 16/17.
http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/cranes/cranesworld.htm indicates that there are, or at least were within the past few years, some still in use in a few countries around the world.
*Some wagons had derailed, and at least one overturned if I remember rightly, on the junction at the country end of platforms 16/17.