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PostPosted: 24 Jan 2013, 23:17 
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Joined: 24 Jan 2011, 19:59
Posts: 65
Interested to hear if any preservation centre or railway-based steam breakdown cranes are interpreted to the passengers and volunteers prepared to read, look or listen to the subject being described in person or in print, film , voice recording, other than stock book.

While a practical demonstration will always fix their attention, with all the action taking place, part of my interest relates to those occasions when the crane is out of steam. It may be that the crane or cranes are out of passengers' sight from platforms and/or public areas, it may be indeed that the crane is regarded as a piece of plant in the main, and not displayed, can understand that.

We used to see these cranes from our train windows as we passed sheds or depots, have an idea what they were, what they existed for, that's just about all gone as regards today's passengers. Except those into railway modelling where interest in cranes and breakdown trains seems high and with many models available in the smaller gauges, much discussion on internet forum and groups.

Interested to hear any thoughts on this as it's likely to become a work in progress later in the year.


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PostPosted: 25 Jan 2013, 14:04 
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Joined: 23 Dec 2010, 00:07
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Location: Poole, Dorset
It is my intention to make up an interpretation panel to explain to visitor what No 2 is all about, hopefully prior to the start of the next visitor season. I am not sure how much interest it will generate, but there is a panel doing the same for the Sentinel diesel collection at the ESR which generates a lot of visitor attention.


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PostPosted: 25 Jan 2013, 14:59 
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Joined: 24 Dec 2010, 11:52
Posts: 236
Location: Queens Park, London
In respect of interest in BDCs I understand that a Meccano exhibition and show at Ironbridge in May is going to have a main feature of BDC models.


http://www.tims.org.uk/Meccanuity2013.aspx


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PostPosted: 01 Feb 2013, 19:31 
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Joined: 24 Jan 2011, 19:59
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Once restored to shiny static exhibit state, hopefully by October of this year for the "Giants of Steam" event, it surely qualifies as a Giant of the Steam age, the public viewpoint thereafter will be from the platform at Horsted Keynes station across to the adjoining sidings. No doubt on occasion the crane can be admitted to the platform road for display.

The station being in immaculately preserved period condition it remains to be seen how the interpretation fits in in an acceptable manner. A poster space to be taken up with 2 A2 posters and explanatory text, plus an explanatory leaflet seems likely, from a pocket on a poster frame on the wall, and maybe a video reel of steam breakdown crane work looped into the existing show on the platform's small film theatre. For the young children perhaps the "Thomas the Tank" character "Rocky the Breakdown Crane" and "The Breakdown Train" can help, indeed it's possible the young ones recognise the crane before their parents / families! These would be in the waiting rooms with some photos of the crane's past working life displayed. If a model or models can be made available and secured, so much the better,

The Bluebell Model Railway on the station, make sure they have a breakdown crane on display/in use!

Hopefully the Bluebell Museum experts will offer some experience or advice to develop all this.

If sufficient funds are raised will deal with the suspension issues, replacement spring(s), weigh all the axles, and get the crane out on gala day demonstration trains.


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