Does anyone have photographs or inside story of what I believe to be the last steam breakdown crane tandem lift of the BR era in the mid 1980's, when the Ransomes & Rapier steam cranes from Brighton and Stewart's Lane depots faced each other at either end of bridge at Haywards Heath station on the London - Brighton line.

So much changed so quickly at that time organisationally on the railways, I was surprised it did not attract more attention from the enthusiast magazines. I recall getting there briefly to see them in daylight, but without a camera!

As part of our Bluebell familiarisation in operating our crane we had help and co-operation from these depots which was much appreciated. This included a wekend visit to view wagon recovery at Ardingly stone depot, on our doorstep! Ashford Chart Leacon helped too, they were at Dover with vans or with Rapier steam crane as well quite often rerailing loco or wagons, I was grateful for being permitted to watch from a suitable distance after my shift. One of these lifts was an all-out lift of an 08 350hp shunter hard up against and parallell to Shakespear Cliff tunnel portal.

?How I look back and regret not carrying a camera regularly!

Well, the answer was here all the time, in the gallery!

http://www.bdca.org.uk/gallery/index.ph ... ge-Renewal


Many thanks for posting this excellent and historic series!

Neil Cameron

Yes, a superb set of pictures! With thanks to official BR photographer John Goss for providing them, and to Peter Tatlow for putting John in touch with us.