A Stainz Crane Tank Bash

Clive Tucker

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Hi all, here's the thread I promised Mr Gizzy Gizzy earlier today :)

So way back in 2006 I stumbled across the web site for the Foxfield Railway - a former colliery line in North Staffordshire, converted to passenger running by way of earning revenue thus to help preserve it. On their stock page, I saw a most unusual beast - a crane tank. In fact, they had 2! I'd never heard of such a thing before, but the idea fascinated me; so much so, that I set about trying to create one for my own line.

The solution was quite simple - a second hand Stainz locomotive, the crane arm from a Matra crane wagon body were the main parts. The thing to join the two was even simpler: the lid from a bottle of cooking oil spray!

The ingredients:

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Obviously there was some cutting involved, to get the top off the lid and to cut a curve into the bottom of it to match the curvature of the loco boiler - but nothing too onerous. The result of it all was this:

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A lick of some suitable green paint to finish, plus some metal chain and a winding wheel from a large scale boat model shop, and it was all looking the part:

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I was lucky enough to get along to a G Scale Society open day near Southampton, where it was quite well received!


That's all there is to it! :)
 
Love it Clive, real out of the box thinking. Must scan in some of my slides of Crane Tanks taken at Doxford and Hodbarrow to add to this thread. Taken in the late 60's early 70's. Not sure what you took as your inspiration (more than likely the middle one) for this Stainz Bash but it certainly captured the feel of the Doxford Locomotives as well.

Could not wait to do my pics so some stock stuff from the net. Just love Crane Tanks!

Snipey at Hodbarrow, not quite the same concept.
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Dubs Crane Tank at Poxton.
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One of the Doxford ones.
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Thanks BakerJohn BakerJohn , P playmofire and dunnyrail dunnyrail . Thanks too for sharing those photos, very interesting - I seem to remember that second photo as one of the 2 at Foxfield, which was indeed my original inspiration. I think their other crane tank was a light blue coloured 0-6-0 called 'Dubsy' or something like that.

That first one is excellent, though!
 
Thanks BakerJohn BakerJohn , P playmofire and dunnyrail dunnyrail . Thanks too for sharing those photos, very interesting - I seem to remember that second photo as one of the 2 at Foxfield, which was indeed my original inspiration. I think their other crane tank was a light blue coloured 0-6-0 called 'Dubsy' or something like that.

That first one is excellent, though!
Snipey was preserved and is still at what was the Lytham Museum. This Museum kind of went to the wall and is a Private Site now but happily Snipey is safely ensconsed withing, Sheeted over most of the time to preserve her super restoration. I gather that there are occasional open days but they will probably be tricky to find out about unless our Blackpool and local contingent get to know.
 
Nicely done Clive....
 
Neat !
 
Great to see these kit-bashes! Adds a ton of variety to our consists. (and I believe we are all learning new skills as we commit to razor saw and glue pot!;) )
 
Thanks all for your kind comments. I guess the only downside of my design is that the height of the crane arm prevents it from going under one of my bridges so I can't actually run it on the continuous circuit! :( So, guest appearances only at the moment! This was back in 2007 (starting at about 1:16)

 
Thanks all for your kind comments. I guess the only downside of my design is that the height of the crane arm prevents it from going under one of my bridges so I can't actually run it on the continuous circuit! :( So, guest appearances only at the moment! This was back in 2007 (starting at about 1:16)



Wait ! I know we have driverless cars, but driverless trains ?!?!?.....:rofl:
 
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