1936 Cowans & Sheldon 10 ton steam crane No 224 demonstrates it's self propelling capabilities on the Glenbrook Vintage Railway (NZ) This film was shot in July 2006.
The Cowans & Sheldon works in Carlisle, Cumbria, UK is now a retail shopping mall. It used to be a big employer of engineers and skilled men and women. I remember the works well. Nearby is a pub (bar) called 'The Cranemakers'. It was a shame and a big blow to the city when the works closed down.
I got to work as a conductor on an old world steam crane servicing a multi car pileup deep in the woods of Pennsylvania. Near Blackwell, PA. It was old world in that the sleeper cars were in tow as was the mess car and support flat car for the steam crane’s parts and pieces. The crew and myself got on site early in the morning. Once the crane was set I went into the mess car for coffee and the cook there told me to set down and made me the largest and best breakfast that I have ever had to this day ! Watching the power that crane had pulling cars from far below the grade up on the rail bed was impressive. An call I will never forget.
This is wonderful to see. One thing I noticed is that it seemed to have extremely limited supplies of coal and water. Presumably it was towed to where it was needed and its propulsion is for local maneuvering around the accident site itself. I would have thought that it would need some form of tender with reserve supplies.
When we bought the crane, it did come with a tender wagon but we never used it. The wagon was turned into the open passenger car we use on our trains. She carries more than enough coal for a days operation. Often she is used at the depot so water is always at hand. This video was probably the last tine she propelled herself and the drivers did it just for the camera man. When we use her along the line, especially for the track gang, she is always attached to a loco as it is a difficult job to engage the dog clutches on the bogies to get her to move. Our railway is only 8km long so water is never far away. We will always put a water hose in the tanks over lunch. She recently got her boiler ticket for another years operation. Doesn’t get used a hell of a lot but is invaluable when we need her. Have a look at another video by this cameraman called “train order 97”. It shows the crane being used for a big job replacing nearly a kilometre of track back about 2007.
This video was excellent, brought back memories. When I was 8 or 10 yrs old I saw a huge rail steam crane used by the then New York Central RR, while picking up a derailed engine. It was cool looking, all black with silver highlights. I was enthralled then as now, watching this vid.
Around 1974 I think I Worked on 224 during my Apprenticeship. I was at Parnell Diesel Depot when it came in for some patch up work. One or two valves were worn out and one of the older tradesmen got roped in to repair them. He fired it up and we all had a go at working various controls.
A few years ago I spent a photographers day, very impressed by the engineering and the way the staff were turned out, I actually wore my souvenir cap this morning. Would love to return but my daughter moved to Aus.
Luar biasa, masih ada mesin kuno dengan kondisi yang masih sehat. Yang sangat menarik adalah coupler ganconya. Rasanya baru sekali ini saya melihat kereta api di luar negeri yang coupler ganconya sama persis dengan coupler peninggalan Belanda di Indonesia.
We had them thru the 70s on the Burlington near Chicago. “The Big Lift”. There was another nick-name which escapes me now. Not self-propelled - needed a diesel to pull one. I think Bucyrus and a Chicago outfit LiftHoist collaborated on them long, long ago. Got replaced by contractors with mobile cranes...
Here in the UK the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has a working steam crane that is used semi regularly for maintenance and it is also shown off at galas at its home shed on the railway
Yup my home town of carlisle the only clue that the works was ever there is a pub on the opposite side of the road called the crane makers & a tiny exhibit in the local museum
I'm guessing the engine is geared to the wheels in some way. Does the same engine also power the hoist and slewing gears? It sounds like a traction engine moving along.
We in Sri Lanka have a steam crane which is still used for lifting at accident sites CGR Ceylon Government Railway It's a white elephant wasting tax money !😥
@@stephencrowfoot244 look at the video.......the two cylinders on each side of the crane are reciprocating while the crane is moving. What does that tell you??
The most bizarre and lovable steam powered vehicle I’ve ever seen
A trick: you can watch series at flixzone. I've been using them for watching loads of movies these days.
The Cowans & Sheldon works in Carlisle, Cumbria, UK is now a retail shopping mall. It used to be a big employer of engineers and skilled men and women. I remember the works well. Nearby is a pub (bar) called 'The Cranemakers'. It was a shame and a big blow to the city when the works closed down.
I got to work as a conductor on an old world steam crane servicing a multi car pileup deep in the woods of Pennsylvania.
Near Blackwell, PA. It was old world in that the sleeper cars were in tow as was the mess car and support flat car for the steam crane’s parts and pieces.
The crew and myself got on site early in the morning. Once the crane was set I went into the mess car for coffee and the cook there told me to set down and made me the largest and best breakfast that I have ever had to this day !
Watching the power that crane had pulling cars from far below the grade up on the rail bed was impressive. An call I will never forget.
This is wonderful to see. One thing I noticed is that it seemed to have extremely limited supplies of coal and water. Presumably it was towed to where it was needed and its propulsion is for local maneuvering around the accident site itself. I would have thought that it would need some form of tender with reserve supplies.
This is pretty much what I was thinking - that it could move itself while working and for travelling would be hooked up to a loco.
Top speed of 6mph would have severely limited the range too.
@@millomweb it was, your right. There is a steam rotory snow plow at the Ogden depot to check out also. No crane
When we bought the crane, it did come with a tender wagon but we never used it. The wagon was turned into the open passenger car we use on our trains. She carries more than enough coal for a days operation. Often she is used at the depot so water is always at hand. This video was probably the last tine she propelled herself and the drivers did it just for the camera man. When we use her along the line, especially for the track gang, she is always attached to a loco as it is a difficult job to engage the dog clutches on the bogies to get her to move. Our railway is only 8km long so water is never far away. We will always put a water hose in the tanks over lunch.
She recently got her boiler ticket for another years operation. Doesn’t get used a hell of a lot but is invaluable when we need her. Have a look at another video by this cameraman called “train order 97”. It shows the crane being used for a big job replacing nearly a kilometre of track back about 2007.
This video was excellent, brought back memories. When I was 8 or 10 yrs old I saw a huge rail steam crane used by the then New York Central RR, while picking up a derailed engine. It was cool looking, all black with silver highlights. I was enthralled then as now, watching this vid.
Rare to see steam cranes especially still working.
I have never thought of self propelled steam cranes
also, here before this explodes even more
Around 1974 I think I Worked on 224 during my Apprenticeship. I was at Parnell Diesel Depot when it came in for some patch up work. One or two valves were worn out and one of the older tradesmen got roped in to repair them. He fired it up and we all had a go at working various controls.
Nothing can stop this. It is too simple for modern superweapons.
We should keep those.
A few years ago I spent a photographers day, very impressed by the engineering and the way the staff were turned out, I actually wore my souvenir cap this morning. Would love to return but my daughter moved to Aus.
Wonderful machinery. Glad this piece of history it is still operating.
When I was a child I never heard an excavator called anything but a steam shovel.
It's still in service at the Glenbrook Vintage Railway NZ. Not used much these days.
Still amazing to see though even when it sits still as it’s an amazing piece of art as well
That's cool . I remember there used to be a large one in Wellington .
saved and restored a steam crane once. I was impressed at how useful and rugged they are.
People are surprised how silent they run!😉
I know! I saw a steam driven tractor once at an old settler's museum and it was so quiet it could almost hiss past you without you even hearing it.
Luar biasa, masih ada mesin kuno dengan kondisi yang masih sehat. Yang sangat menarik adalah coupler ganconya. Rasanya baru sekali ini saya melihat kereta api di luar negeri yang coupler ganconya sama persis dengan coupler peninggalan Belanda di Indonesia.
What a bloody beauty!!
I had no idea we had one still working in New Zealand, really nice to see.
What a great video, never seen one of these moving.
Bet it gets stinking hot in that cab when she's working
We had them thru the 70s on the Burlington near Chicago.
“The Big Lift”. There was another nick-name which escapes me now.
Not self-propelled - needed a diesel to pull one.
I think Bucyrus and a Chicago outfit LiftHoist collaborated on them long, long ago.
Got replaced by contractors with mobile cranes...
Here in the UK the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway has a working steam crane that is used semi regularly for maintenance and it is also shown off at galas at its home shed on the railway
What a character
Listen to that rod knocking
Amazing.
There's one of these old steam powered wrecking cranes that's still working here in the US in Nevada. Not sure about any others.
Impressionnante et superbe !
Very nice
73's to France
Absolutely lovely to see. Pity about the crew over steaming her for a few photos.
imagine seeing this pulling the mainline express train
Love it! What a great machine!
thank you
Thanks for posting this video. The site of the Cowan and Sheldon works is now a shopping centre, progress eh ?
Yup my home town of carlisle the only clue that the works was ever there is a pub on the opposite side of the road called the crane makers & a tiny exhibit in the local museum
How are the bogey wheels driven? No visible sign of con rods or cogs.
I don't see any connection rods on the wheels...is this some sort of steam electric drive system?
They had one at Bristol Bath Rd England, years ago.
Thank you for posting this wonderful video.. i enjoyed watching it very much and i added a like to it
Amazing old girl! Glad she had a day on the rails. Does she still get out in 2021?
How is steam coupled to the wheel axles which look like common 4 wheel trucks/bogies ?
Is she still operating as it would be awesome to see still chuffing along.
It's a shame the video didn't include it doing other things cranes do too !
Have a look at some more videos bu Rob. It shows the crane lifting boilers and doing track work some years back.
Похоже это "паровой кран"?Уголька подбрось в топку - конечно "исторический" механизм.Видел похожий в России.Очень давно,в детстве.
Nice. Thanks for posting. Have you still got it? Is it still serviceable? Would make a nice model subject.
ROCKY!!! or was it the breakdown train... i dont remember their names
I clicked on it a second time so I could look in related
The greens might have to phase this relic out by 2030
Do you have a video of it lifting as well?
Awesome!!!
Are there any outriggers or does it simply lift nothing anywhere near its own weight?
Wow.
I'm guessing the engine is geared to the wheels in some way. Does the same engine also power the hoist and slewing gears? It sounds like a traction engine moving along.
The same engine powers everything. There are a lot of gears hidden away inside this machine.
The Rumbling
We in Sri Lanka have a steam crane which is still used for lifting at accident sites
CGR Ceylon Government Railway
It's a white elephant wasting tax money !😥
Shear Bliss 🇬🇧
Steam train or steam crane?
How is it 'self propelled'? 🤔
It is able to move itself down the track as you see in the video. If it were not self propelled it would have to be towed.
I can see that it's self propelled but how is it driven??, i.e., chain drive/gear drive or pistons under the frame?
@@stephencrowfoot244 look at the video.......the two cylinders on each side of the crane are reciprocating while the crane is moving. What does that tell you??
Respect...l
NEWWw ZELAND! WOOoOo
mautu ioapo rumbling along with old 224 nz thonk you youtube videos goodday by now
mautu ioapo in my loaptop compter thonk you 25.9.2014
Be careful of all those open gears.