Railway Cranes – Volume 2

Published by Crécy Publishing www.crecy.co.uk

215mm x 300mm size, 272 pages, B&W/colour, hardback. £35.00

THE second of a definitive three-volume series on the subject, this book covers the second half of the development of steam- (then diesel) powered cranes on the UK rail network. It is relevant not only to early BR and BR blue D&E enthusiasts and modellers, but also those involved in the modern heritage scene, with over 30 examples now based on preserved railways, though sadly many of these are not currently operational. As you might expect, the book contains a wealth of detail, including line drawings, diagrams and a huge selection of photographs, a good proportion of which are pleasingly in colour. The development of powered cranes involves some complex technical details, but the author has consciously done all he can to make these as accessible as possible to a lay audience. Fascinating images include the heavily demolished front end of a first generation DMU, that came off worst after an argument with a freight train locomotive, being recovered at Chinley North Junction in 1979, as well as an undated view of a Class 47 being craned upright at Shrewsbury after air bags alone failed to rerail the Brush machine.