15-ton Steam Cranes
Cowans Sheldon
Mk.1 & Mk. 2 types
In 2020 Oxford Rail announced its
15-ton Cowans Sheldon steam cranes.
In terms of these Cowans Sheldon 15-ton cranes there were two noticeable
variations; the Mk.1 with a curved jib and the Mk.2 with a swan-neck jib.
Oxford Rail has announced two of each version and I’m sure they have researched
this well (their illustration being of a Mk.1 crane at Derby Works.
Summary of Cowans Sheldon 15-ton Cranes
(as to be modelled by
Oxford Rail)
|
Number |
Bought |
Date |
Model |
Number |
Number(s) at |
Match Wagon |
|
Mk.1 (Curved Jib) |
||||||
|
1854N |
MR |
1893 |
Stoke |
RS1023/15 |
RS1023/15 |
14903 |
|
1857N |
MR |
1893 |
Wellingborough |
243 |
RS1036/15 |
114906 |
|
Mk.2 (Swan-neck
Jib) |
||||||
|
2118T |
NER |
1897 |
Sunderland |
901628 |
(331)155 |
901705 |
|
2182T |
LBSCR |
1898 |
Stewarts Lane |
Ds316 |
Ds316 |
Ds22426 |
Modelling the Match Wagons
It is also noted that no mention
has been made of the match wagons for these cranes and one can only surmise
this might be causing some anxiety as each was very different potentially
leading to prohibitive tooling costs.
If just one version of match
wagon was made it might be incorrect for other cranes - potentially leading to
criticism – as could a generic match wagon. Quite what the solution would be is
unclear although many of these cranes were paired with modified 3-plank open
wagons.
Perhaps this is the opportunity
for separately offering the correct match wagons (albeit at additional cost)
with the superstructures of each formed by 3D printing – if not directly from Oxford
Rail then how about collaboration with an enterprising 3D model manufacturer?
For example, recently Rails of
Sheffield successfully provided a 3D-printed SECR covered wagon using 3D
printing – it was a sell-out.
Now some might baulk at (say)
£20-25 for the additional cost of the correct match wagon; instead preferring
to compromise with a suitable open wagon or similar. However, I suspect many
would appreciate the need to produce (perhaps) 3D wagons (with the additional
cost) in order to obtain the desired finished model.
Potentially interesting times to
come?
More will be added
here about these cranes when my time permits……
Previous 4mm Model
Cranes
In
terms of previous 4mm cranes the Hornby Dublo model
(which had a shortened jib) regularly formed the basis for detailing across the
decades. Hornby’s issue is a
somewhat compromised and basic representation of a 75-ton Cowans
Sheldon crane, typical of a design introduced in 1960. These were in service
(in steam powered form) until the mid-1970s.
GA Models' (Gordon Ashton) Ransomes and Rapier crane kit is the 36-ton version as
supplied to the GWR in 1908 /1910; it is understood to be no longer available.
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Further Reading |
|
|
Peter Tatlow |
Railway Breakdown Cranes Vol.1 |
ISBN
978-1-906419-69-1 |
|
Peter Tatlow |
Railway Breakdown Cranes Vol.2 |
ISBN
978-1-906419-97-4 |
|
Peter Tatlow |
Railway Breakdown Cranes Vol.3 |
ISBN
978-0-86093-684-8 |
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(From whose excellent books this article is most grateful) |
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