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Photos are filed under the crane's CEPS number where this exists. A cross-reference will be found at http://bdca.org.uk/cepsdb.html

DE331159, Holbeck, c.1973

The crane is looking sorry for itself, but we now know from crane driver Peter Woad that it was in Derby works for overhaul from 27.7.1973 to 6.2.1974, after this photo was taken, and came out with slightly different livery to that shown here, with the crane number along the top of the cab sides, and the number and "Holbeck" in line along the rear. It no longer carried the yellow information plate.

We also know that the crane had just a few weeks prior to that overhaul received a repaint for the Neville Hill Open Days of 28/29.4.1973 but still with the livery shown here. Hence this photo must have been taken prior to 28th April 1973.

This all fits well with the next photo in this album which shows the crane on 4th May 1973 with new paintwork but without the crane number along the top of the cab.

Photo © Tony Statham

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  • Peter Woad on 2012-Mar-16 20:51:06 Peter Woad said

    i think this photo was taken prior to July 1973 as the crane went into works 27/7/1973 and came out 6/2/1974 the info panel on each side of the cab was replaced by the number being on a yellow panel just below the roof and on the rear was the number and depot name also on a yellow panel,plus the class 45 under the jib still as route indicators in use ,these went out of use in the mid 1970"s

  • David Withers on 2012-Mar-26 20:42:41 David Withers said

    Thanks for that, Peter. The photographer, Tony Statham, told me he was relying on a weak memory when he gave me the date. The condition of the crane suggested that the photo was taken quite late in the crane's time at Holbeck, but obviously not. I will correct it shortly (it also appears elsewhere on the website, in the article "Steam Power replaced by Diesel", so that will need correcting as well).

  • BARRY REDFEARN on 2015-Sep-30 19:31:44 BARRY REDFEARN said

    The livery of the crane was done in line with a directive from the district office following a visit from the BR safety committee due to an incident involving a track laying crane, the where and when i was not aware of,
    I painted this livery myself prior to the neville hill open days to try and create a good impression which it did
    going by the comments of people visiting neville hill open days and as breadown supervisor Holbeck 1969 / 1978 thought it was my duty to present a good image

  • Roger Cooke on 2015-Oct-20 09:22:43 Roger Cooke said

    The accident referred to may well be the incident which occurred at King's Langley on the 21st April 1963 when a train struck the tail end of a permanent way crane operating on an adjacent line.

    A copy of the Official Report can be found on the Railways Archive website at
    http://www.railwaysarchive.co.uk/documents/MoT_KingsLangley1963.pdf

  • Howard Neal on 2024-Mar-03 00:49:37 Howard Neal said

    I remember a steam crane at a Neville Hill open day in 1973. 28th April, I believe. I’m pretty sure it was giving groups of visitors rides by hoisting them up in the air a four wheel open railway wagon.