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PostPosted: 14 Apr 2013, 18:11 
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Joined: 24 Jan 2011, 19:59
Posts: 65
Refers to Ransomes & Rapier 45t crane RS1083/45 (ADRR95215)
formerly at Gorton and Newton Heath

Published today in Bluebell Railway e-Newsletter the official release, shown below in full.

"To support the Ransomes & Rapier steam breakdown crane project, an application was submitted to Arts Council England in the name of the Bluebell Railway Trust.

I am delighted to report that a grant has been awarded for £15,250. This will enable the cosmetic restoration of the crane to make it presentable to the public and to prevent deterioration. Included is funding for interpretation to explain its historical significance.

The project is headed by Neil Cameron and Chris Hunford. The crane is at present standing in a siding in the West Yard at Horsted Keynes (see photo below).

In celebrating the grant, we must thank the Breakdown Crane Association for its enthusiastic support and input; Roger Kelly and the Fundraising Committee; the 9F Club, which is playing its part; and everyone else who has supported the project thus far.

By Sam Bee, Bluebell Railway Trust

More details on this project in the next e-Newsletter". End of Article.

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This is just great news and hope to have the painted crane looking like this by Autumn 2013, hopefully

http://www.bdca.org.uk/gallery/index.ph ... m/scan0001

in time for the Giants of Steam event (it surely qualifies) at the Bluebell in October and celebrate the crane's 70 years at that event, if we are given enough dry weather to paint.

This early 1950's repaint saw the crane to the end of steam, so red is not an option at this time.

I've read of specialist vehicles supported in this manner, good to have a breakdown crane too.

My thanks to the BDCA Officers for setting up this website and to the Forum too, when you are alone with an idea it's very welcoming and the increased historical awareness from reading the website has been both interesting and invaluable in completing that part of the application for the grant. This will lend the crane a relevance to the Railway, give us hope to steam again in the future and I hope attract interest from all who see the interpretation and a shiny crane in plain view, not out of sight.

The colour shots of this crane in Peter Tatlow's Railway Breakdown Cranes vol. 2. are invaluable.
(I have donated a copy each of vol 1 and vol 2 to Bluebell Railway's reference library).

There's a main carriage side spring to purchase, change and repair, a re-weigh and adjust to do when we can get on the C&W pad, take it for a test run and an assessment of the boiler, re-make the missing roof and all the rusted out light metal components that need renewing, replating half the jib runner deck and more, hire in scaffolding and whatever it takes to work safely at height to complete.

Thanks to Roger Cooke and David Withers for their support, very much appreciated at this time, the turning point for the Project. Will post updates along the way,

Neil Cameron


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PostPosted: 15 Apr 2013, 09:09 
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BDCA Member

Joined: 16 Feb 2012, 17:58
Posts: 100
Location: Near Redruth, Cornwall
Neil.
Congratulations to you and your team on the Ransomes & Rapier steam breakdown crane project.
Hope to see a full restoration to get her up and running in the near future.
Mick


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PostPosted: 16 Apr 2013, 12:29 
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Joined: 23 Dec 2010, 00:07
Posts: 384
Location: Poole, Dorset
Neil,

This is fantastic news and well-deserved! David and I know better than most the amount of effort you and your fellows have put into this project. Very well done!

I am looking forward immensely to seeing the crane in its new livery, and thank goodness it won't be another plain red or plain black repaint! (I can get away with plain black since it is the only livery that No 2 ever carried).

I did look into the possibility of PRISM (and other) funding for No 2, but as usual (and quite rightly) it is very difficult to obtain any kind of grant-aid for privately-owned artefacts, but if nothing else this does mean that I know the hoops you have to jump through to succeed.

Congratulations!

Roger


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