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Cranes in NZR Service
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Do you have any information regarding rail-cranes you can share? Please contact: Phillip Treweek
Crane Listing
As a step toward finding out more about the cranes operated by New Zealand Railways, I thought it would be useful to start by finding out just what cranes there were. After initially thinking this was going to be a quick job, I soon realised that there was actually quite a range of travelling cranes used by NZR. Although my current list is still incomplete, I feel it is starting to get there.
My starting point was: 'New Zealand Railways South Island Working Timetable of December 1952' (Wellington, The New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society 1979) and 'New Zealand Railways North Island Working Timetable of July 1947' (Wellington, The New Zealand Railway and Locomotive Society 1984) as introduced by T.A. McGavin. From there I incorporated previous lists by Kerry Bennett, Bill Prebble, Chris Capewell, the late John Herbert and a very useful but anonymous list which came to me via Colin Barry. Additional data was provided by Paul Dillicar, Kevin Crosado, Chris Rietveld and many others. I have also added info from archival documents. My biggest single lead has been the Loco 63 rolling stock registers held by the NZR&LS archive at Ava. This have given an excellent insight into crane stocks between 1892 and 1947.
After much time spent in trying to figure out how the individual crane number allocation was made, I feel I now have a reasonable picture. Take a look at my notes on crane numbering here.
Please contact me if you have information about cranes not listed here, or further information about those that are.
The crane numbers below are links to the details I have on each crane. The crane description will take you to a block listing by type. The manufacturer name links to biographical notes on the manufacturing company. I also have a seperate list of NZR crane survivors. Details of cranes by type can be accessed through the menu at left.
Note that some of the numbers in this sequence were allocated to other types of non-revenue rolling stock (pile driving winches, steam shovels, etc). I have included this for completeness.
The listing is ordered by the pre-TMS number scheme (only two cranes only had TMS numbers). Those cranes operated by New Zealand railways that I am aware of are:
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 1 | 3 ton steam crane | ||
| 2 | 3 ton steam crane | J. Anderson & Co . | |
| 3 | 2 ton steam crane | ||
| 4 | 1.5 ton steam crane | ||
| 5 | 1.5 ton steam crane | ||
| 6 | 1.5 ton steam crane | 1873 | J. Anderson & Co . |
| 7 | 1.5 ton steam crane | ||
| 8 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 8 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Appleby Bros. |
| 9 | 1.5 ton steam crane | ||
| 10 | 1.5 ton steam crane | ||
| 11 | 5 ton steam crane | S. Owen & Co | |
| 12 | steam hoisting engine | ||
| 13 | 3 ton steam crane | 1879 | J. Anderson & Co . |
| 14 | steam piledriver | 1879 | J Anderson & Co . |
| 15 | 3 ton steam crane | 1874 | Cowans Sheldon & Co . |
| 16 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 17 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 18 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 19 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 20 | steam hoisting engine | Appleby Bros. | |
| 36 | 3 ton steam crane | 1886 | S. Luke & Co . |
| 40 | 3 ton steam crane | 1883 | Fraser Tinnie & Co |
| 42 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 43 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 47 | 12 ton steam crane | 1886 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 49 | 12 ton steam crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 50 | 3 ton steam crane | Kincaid McQueen | |
| 51 | 2 ton steam crane | 1871 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 58 | 1 ton steam crane | ||
| 60 | 20 ton steam crane | 1899 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| 70 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 71 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 72 | 2 ton steam crane | 1874 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 74 | 3 ton steam crane | 1884 | J. Anderson |
| 75 | 3 ton steam crane | Cowans Sheldon & Co . | |
| 76 | 3 ton steam crane | ||
| 77 | 3 ton steam crane | 1880 | Fraser Tinnie & Co |
| 78 | 3 ton steam crane | 1880 | Fraser Tinnie & Co |
| 79 | 3 ton steam crane | <1892 | S. Luke & Co . |
| 82 | 3 ton steam crane | <1892 | S. Luke & Co . |
| 83 | steam hoisting engine | J. Anderson & Co | |
| 85 | 5 ton steam crane | 1901 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 93 | 7 ton steam crane | 1898 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| 94 | 7 ton steam crane | 1899 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| 99 | 7 ton steam crane | 1901 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 100 | 5 ton steam crane | 1901 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| 101 | 7 ton steam crane | 1901 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| 102 | 7 ton steam crane | 1901 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| 103 | 7 ton steam crane | 1902 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| 120 | 5 ton steam crane | 1904 | NZR |
| 121 | 5 ton steam crane | 1904 | NZR |
| 122 | 15 ton steam crane | 1904 | Andersons Ltd. |
| 124 | 15 ton steam crane | 1944 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 129 | 7 ton steam crane | 1903 | Stothert & Pitt |
| 136 | 7 ton steam crane | 1906 | Stothert & Pitt |
| 137 | 7 ton steam crane | 1906 | Stothert & Pitt |
| 138 | 7 ton steam crane | 1906 | Stothert & Pitt |
| 139 | 7 ton steam crane | 1906 | Stothert & Pitt |
| 140 | 7 ton steam crane | 1906 | Stothert & Pitt |
| 141 | 5 ton steam crane | 1907 | NZR |
| 142 | 5 ton steam crane | 1907 | NZR |
| 143 | 20 ton steam crane | 1907 | Jessop & Appleby Bros. |
| 149 | 5 ton steam crane | 1908 | NZR |
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 150 | 5 ton steam crane | 1908 | NZR |
| 151 | 5 ton steam crane | 1908 | NZR |
| 152 | 5 ton steam crane | 1908 | NZR |
| 155 | 7.5 ton steam crane | 1908 | Browning Engineering Co |
| 156 | 7 ton steam crane | 1907 | Stothert & Pitt |
| 157 | 7 ton steam crane | Jessop & Appleby Bros. | |
| 158 | Steam Shovel | Marion | |
| 163 | Steam Shovel | Whitaker Bros | |
| 164 | Steam Shovel | Whitaker Bros | |
| 166 | Pile Driver | ||
| 168 | 20 ton steam crane | 1909 | Applebys Ltd. |
| 169 | 5 ton steam crane | 1920 | Butters Bros. |
| 170 | 3.5 ton Petrol-Electric Mobile crane | ||
| 171 | 2 ton Petrol-Electric Mobile crane | ||
| 172 | 2 ton Petrol-Electric Mobile crane | ||
| 173 | 2 ton Petrol-Electric Mobile crane | ||
| 174 | 2 ton Petrol-Electric Super Mobile crane | ||
| 175 | 2 ton Petrol-Electric Super Mobile crane | ||
| 176 | 2 ton Petrol-Electric Super Mobile crane | ||
| 177 | 2 ton Petrol-Electric Super Mobile crane | ||
| 179 | 3.5 ton Petrol-Electric Mobile crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 197 | 10 ton diesel crane | 1943 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 198 | 4 ton diesel crane | 1950 | Jones (K&L Steelfounders) |
| 199 | 40 ton steam crane | 1936 | Craven Bros. |
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 200 | 40 ton steam crane | 1936 | Craven Bros. |
| 201 | 40 ton steam crane | 1939 | Craven Bros. |
| 202 | 40 ton steam crane | 1939 | Craven Bros. |
| 206 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1931 | Priestman Bros. |
| 207 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1931 | Priestman Bros. |
| 208 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1931 | Priestman Bros. |
| 209 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1934 | Priestman Bros. |
| 210 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1934 | Priestman Bros. |
| 211 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1937 | Priestman Bros. |
| 212 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1944 | Priestman Bros. |
| 213 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1945 | Priestman Bros. |
| 214 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1945 | Priestman Bros. |
| 215 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1945 | Priestman Bros. |
| 216 | 15 cwt steam grab | 1946 | Priestman Bros. |
| 223 | 10 ton steam crane | 1937 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 224 | 10 ton steam crane | 1937 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 225 | 10 ton steam crane | 1938 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 226 | 10 ton steam crane | 1939 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 227 | 10 ton steam crane | 1939 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 246 | 10 ton hand crane | c.1884 | Cowans Sheldon & Co . |
| 247 | 2 ton hand crane | <1892 | |
| 248 | 2 ton hand crane | <1889 | |
| 249 | 2 ton hand crane | <1889 | |
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 250 | 5 ton hand crane | <1892 | |
| 251 | 5 ton hand crane | <1892 | |
| 252 | 10 ton hand crane | c.1884 | Cowans Sheldon & Co . |
| 253 | 5 ton steam crane | 1924 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 254 | 7 ton steam crane | 1925 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 255 | 7 ton steam crane | 1925 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 256 | 7 ton steam crane | 1925 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 257 | 7 ton steam crane | 1925 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 258 | 5 ton steam crane | 1925 | Isles Ltd. |
| 259 | 5 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 260 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 261 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 262 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 263 | 2 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 264 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 265 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 266 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 267 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 268 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 269 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 270 | 5 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 271 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 272 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 273 | 3 ton hand crane | Cowans Sheldon & Co | |
| 274 | 2 ton hand crane | Cowans Sheldon & Co | |
| 275 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 276 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 277 | 5 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 278 | 5 ton hand crane | ||
| 279 | 7 ton hand crane | 1875 | Ransomes & Rapier |
| 280 | 10 ton hand crane | 1902 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 281 | 10 ton hand crane | Cowans Sheldon & Co | |
| 282 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 283 | 5 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 284 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 285 | 5 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 286 | 2 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 287 | 5 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 288 | 2 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 289 | 2 ton hand crane | ||
| 290 | 5 ton hand crane | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 291 | 5 ton hand crane | c.1886 | Grafton Crane & Co |
| 292 | 10 ton hand crane | 1902 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 293 | 5 ton hand crane ? | Ransomes & Rapier | |
| 293 | Pneumatic coaling crane ? | NZR | |
| 294 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 295 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 296 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 297 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 298 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | Appleby/NZR | |
| 299 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 300 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 301 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 302 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 303 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 304 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 305 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 306 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | Bray & Waddington | |
| 307 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | Bray & Waddington | |
| 308 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 309 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 310 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 311 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 312 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 313 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 314 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 315 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 316 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 317 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 318 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | Jessop & Appleby Bros | |
| 319 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 320 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 321 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 322 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 323 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 324 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 325 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 326 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 327 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 328 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 329 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 330 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 331 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 332 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 333 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 334 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 335 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 336 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 337 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 338 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 339 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 340 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 341 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 342 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 343 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 344 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 345 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 346 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 347 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 348 | Pneumatic coaling crane | NZR | |
| 349 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 350 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 350 | 4 ton diesel crane | 1950 | Jones (K&L Steelfounders) |
| 351 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 352 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 353 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 354 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 355 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 356 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 357 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 358 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 359 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 360 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 361 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 362 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 363 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 364 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 365 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 366 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 367 | 15 ton electric crane | 1930 | Clyde Crane &Engineering |
| 368 | 1 ton hand crane | 1874 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 368 | 15 ton electric crane | 1961 | Clyde Crane &Engineering |
| 369 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 370 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 371 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | ||
| 372 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 373 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| 374 | Pneumatic Coaling crane | NZR | |
| No | Description | Built | Maker |
| 407 | 4 ton diesel crane | 1953 | Jones (K&L Steelfounders) |
| 500 | 40 ton diesel crane | 1964 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 511 | 10 ton diesel crane | 1962 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 512 | 10 ton diesel crane | 1962 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 550 | 15 ton diesel crane | 1962 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 551 | 15 ton diesel crane | 1962 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 552 | 15 ton diesel crane | 1962 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| 553 | 15 ton diesel crane | 1962 | Cowans Sheldon & Co |
| EL 6002 | 60 tonne diesel crane | 1979 | NEI-Clark Chapman |
| EL 6019 | 60 tonne diesel crane | 1979 | NEI-Clark Chapman |