Full Size Railway Yard cranes

[geoff_nicholls]

has anyone written the definitive book on railway yard cranes? preferably with drawings? or perhaps even an article? Did each company stick to it's own designs, like with signal boxes, or were there generic designs popular with several lines? I've noticed the GWR in particular had two very distinctive designs.
I would be mostly interested in pre 1914, as that's the period I model.

 

[Mike W]

I expect the smaller companies bought standard cranes, but the LNWR made their own, as can be shown by "Crewe" cast into the central columns. I expect the GER did the same. And there were different sizes of course, 20cwt, 25cwt etc etc. The "RCH Handbook of Stations" lists the sizes of crane at every station in the country and will give you a guide for the sort of place you are modelling.

I assume you mean external cranes, rather than turning that large building of yours into the interior of a goods shed?

Let me know if you need a drawing of an LNWR example, but I warn you - making the jib will be fun!

Mike

 

[AndyB]

Geoff,
The Midland had its own design - which is quite well illustrated by photos and descriptions of surviving examples. However, I have not been able to locate any drawings yet.

Andy