The Steam Crane Story.

Funny how humble things trigger wonderful memories.

Being engineer find cranes fascinating, Walking with son Australian Technology Park, Saw 1083 luffing crane just outside what was Eveleigh Railway Workshops.

1083 has 7 ton lifting capacity, Built by Robert Stephenson and Hawthorns 1950 part of NSWGR final order in 0–4–0 crane tank locos that starting with 1030 in 1879, Outlasted mainline steam 1083 withdrawn early 1980’s, Preserved as static display.

Saw 1083 or sister steaming in ‘60’s around workshops in picture’s background, Remember workshop huge and dark, Student engineer at welding table being taught gas and arc welding, Told good welder, But dutiful son stuck blindly to engineering future.

Writing story triggered many memories, England early ‘70’s, Saw dream loco Mallard in York National museum, 4–6–2 “Pacific”, Class A4 designed by Nigel Gresley built at Doncaster Works.

World steam record holder, 3 July 1938 claimed world speed record for steam locomotives at 126 mph (203 km/h) on downward grade of Stoke Bank, south of Grantham between Little Bytham and Essendine stations.

Returned from England, Family and children, Practising Engineer and IT enterprise architect, Life moves forward.

Magnificent 3801 steamed past me few weeks back, All over in flash of steam, Took pictures and wrote story, Remembered all my happy times meeting grandparents 3801 train in 1950's, Scale modelling 1960's, Railfan trips 60's-70's.

Started writing about steam locomotives, Sharing happy thoughts, Still have one to write AD60 Class Garratt articulated locomotive.

Blessed be.