The One:One Collection
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    • ON SITE
      • 'Bittern' A4 Class
      • BR 45379 'Black Five' Class 5MT
      • 'Cowans Sheldon' 50 Tonnes Breakdown Crane
      • NER 305 Officer's Saloon Coach
      • GWR 9005 Special Saloon Coach
      • BR Engineering Department (Western Region) : B30W Wickham Trolley
      • BR Intercity 47841 Class 47
      • SR S2464S Luggage Van – the Churchill funeral hearse
      • Eurostar 373304 Class 373
      • Coronation ‘Beavertail’ No. 1729
      • 'Raveningham Hall' Hall Class
    • OFF SITE
      • 'Britannia' Standard Class 7
      • 'Braunton' West Country Class (Battle of Britain Class)
      • 'Royal Scot' Royal Scot Class
      • 'The Sherwood Forester' Black Five Class 5MT
      • '92212' Standard Class 9F
      • 'Holland America Line' Merchant Navy Class
      • 'Port Line' Merchant Navy Class
      • 'King Edward I' King Class
      • 'Nunney Castle' Castle Class
      • '4270' 4200 Class
    • OFF SITE
      • 'Gordon Highlander' Deltic Class 55
      • 'Royal Scots Grey' Deltic Class 55
      • 'The Royal Artilleryman' Peak Class 45
      • 'Blue Peter' Class A2
      • '121034' Class 121
      • 'Andania' Class 40
      • '37667' Class 37
      • 'Roger Hosking' Class 47
      • '08737' Class 08
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The One:One Collection

  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 01
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 02
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 03
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 04
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 05
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 01
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 02
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 03
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 04
  • Cowans Sheldon Crane 05

‘COWANS SHELDON’ : BR ADRC96719 (941599/ADRC95218)

50 TONNES BREAKDOWN CRANE

Breakdown cranes have been a necessity of the railway system for more than 150 years and were required to lift ever-increasing weight to enable the continued smooth running of the network. Very seldom seen, so as to maintain the confidence of the public in safety and comfort, they were the unsung heroes of the railway.

‘Cowans Sheldon’ crane (LNER works order No.6871), originally built in 1939 as a 45-tonne crane, was delivered in February 1940 as LNER No.941599, subsequently numbered 330110 by BR. This crane carried number ADRC95218 prior to conversion from steam to diesel-hydraulic in August 1986, following which it was renumbered to ADRC96719 and allocated to Brighton Depot in the Southern Region.

Now rated at 50 tonnes and preserved, this crane was one of a total of 176 breakdown cranes that appeared on the British railway system from 1875. Approximately one in five entered preservation and about half of these are in working order today.

Photos by: 1, 2, 3 + 5 - David Babaian, 4 - Corran Selman


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The One:One Collection is not currently open to the public on a regular basis, although we hope to develop the museum as a visitor attraction in the future. Information about occasional opportunities to view will be posted on this website and on social media, so please connect with us, and bookmark this site.

Copyright © The One:One Collection. The One:One Collection is a brand owned and operated by The Locomotive Storage Company Ltd, A company incorporated in England & Wales - Company No. 08753647.
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  • Home
  • About
  • The One:One Collection Museum
    • ON SITE
      • 'Bittern' A4 Class
      • BR 45379 'Black Five' Class 5MT
      • 'Cowans Sheldon' 50 Tonnes Breakdown Crane
      • NER 305 Officer's Saloon Coach
      • GWR 9005 Special Saloon Coach
      • BR Engineering Department (Western Region) : B30W Wickham Trolley
      • BR Intercity 47841 Class 47
      • SR S2464S Luggage Van – the Churchill funeral hearse
      • Eurostar 373304 Class 373
      • Coronation ‘Beavertail’ No. 1729
      • 'Raveningham Hall' Hall Class
    • OFF SITE
      • 'Britannia' Standard Class 7
      • 'Braunton' West Country Class (Battle of Britain Class)
      • 'Royal Scot' Royal Scot Class
      • 'The Sherwood Forester' Black Five Class 5MT
      • '92212' Standard Class 9F
      • 'Holland America Line' Merchant Navy Class
      • 'Port Line' Merchant Navy Class
      • 'King Edward I' King Class
      • 'Nunney Castle' Castle Class
      • '4270' 4200 Class
    • OFF SITE
      • 'Gordon Highlander' Deltic Class 55
      • 'Royal Scots Grey' Deltic Class 55
      • 'The Royal Artilleryman' Peak Class 45
      • 'Blue Peter' Class A2
      • '121034' Class 121
      • 'Andania' Class 40
      • '37667' Class 37
      • 'Roger Hosking' Class 47
      • '08737' Class 08
      • Notable Assets List
  • Icons of Steam
  • Royal Scot Trust
  • Saphos Trains
  • Blog
  • Videos
  • Contact