Report - Abandoned US Army Crane Train, Bristol - August 2020

[Imba]

More information about the crane - enquires were apparently made with Grafton some years ago about this crane. Grafton refused to accept they had manufactured this machine, on the basis that this crane's build number matched a crane which had been built for a ship which then sunk. The belief is that this crane was retrieved from the ship before disaster struck, and rebuilt for rail use. Further investigation suggests that it was rebuilt from a Steam Crane. Ex MoD - Bramley ammunition depot. It's been at it's current location since at least 2013 and probably some years before that.

Damn, this is very interesting! Thanks for doing the digging

 

[The Amateur Wanderer]

That’s pretty special, really liking it, good find mate!

 

[Ordnance]

Interesting post, but I feel not WW2 American:

The shunter is an ex WD (British War Department) Ser no WD 63036 with DE-Day Invasion markings (Star in Circle) which may be confusing it with America!

Is there a railway preservation group in the area as this looks like it has been abandoned/stored by one...

 

[westernsultan]

The shunter is an ex WD (British War Department) Ser no WD 63036 with DE-Day Invasion markings (Star in Circle) which may be confusing it with America!

Is there a railway preservation group in the area as this looks like it has been abandoned/stored by one...

It's a crane not a shunter, and of course it's owned by a preservation group as are all the wagons photographed in the report

 

[tumbles]

Interesting post, but I feel not WW2 American:

The shunter is an ex WD (British War Department) Ser no WD 63036 with DE-Day Invasion markings (Star in Circle) which may be confusing it with America!

Is there a railway preservation group in the area as this looks like it has been abandoned/stored by one...

It's on a preserved railway. I'd be inclined to say its not really close to Bristol.. its not even in the same country.

 

[westernsultan]

Damn, this is very interesting! Thanks for doing the digging

More information for you. There was a railtour to the MOD site in 1987

but no mention of the crane - although it may still have been there. Looks like first recording of it in preservation was 1991

 

[westernsultan]

It's on a preserved railway. I'd be inclined to say its not really close to Bristol.. its not even in the same country.

It is in the same Country - England

 

[tumbles]

It is in the same Country - England

Ok fair point

 

[Lord Oort]

I think tumbles meant county.

 

[Ordnance]

It's a crane not a shunter, and of course it's owned by a preservation group as are all the wagons photographed in the report

Looking again, yes you are right. So its a War Department registered crane. WD 63063 - So not a long abandoned train then!

 

[westernsultan]

Looking again, yes you are right. So its a War Department registered crane. WD 63063 - So not a long abandoned train then!

correct and here are the details I posted yesterday

63063

DexS ex Army

5T

4W

Grafton 1540/?1914

 

[Calamity Jane]

It's on a preserved railway. I'd be inclined to say its not really close to Bristol.. its not even in the same country.

I believe its Somerset @tumbles

 

[Imba]

Thanks for all the research guys - I find this absolutely fascinating

And yes it is in Somerset, I forget Bristol is/was Avon but is now it's own authority I believe? Kinda confusing as I've always considered it Somerset!

 

[Ojay]

Some interesting bits, thanks for sharing

 

[Seffy]

Excellent report! Very interesting too - thanks for posting