This six-wheel travelling steam crane was built for the
Southern Region of British Railways in 1949 by Messrs Taylor & Hubbard
(builder’s No. 1603). It takes steam at 90 psi from
a vertical ‘Spencer Hopwood’ patent steam boiler.
The crane weighs 471/2 tons in full working order and has
a 37 ft jib. Lifting capacity is 10 tons at 15 ft radius.
As DS 451, it spent most of its working life at New Cross
Gate although the last few years of its life were spent at
Hither Green and Ashford track pre-assembly depots, being
successively displaced by diesel cranes. It was sometimes
used by BR as a spare crane, being transferred to other depots
when their cranes underwent repairs. During its final months
spent at Ashford it was only used when other cranes were
due for washout or repairs. It received a heavy overhaul
at New Cross Gate in 1977 and was re-roped in February 1981,
only a few nonths before being laid aside at Ashford. A group
of members successfully tendered for it and delivery took
place in August 1982.
DS 451 has seen much use since its arrival. It is of extremely
rugged construction - Taylor & Hubbard appeared to build
their machines on the Victorian principle of ‘If it breaks
double the size and weight’. The engine and gearing were
built to withstand a hundred per cent overload. It is ideally
suited to permanent way work, withstanding the hard slogging
often needed. It is in red breakdown livery.
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