Station Name: MERTON ABBEYabbey19.jpg) Derailment on the Triang siding west of Merton Abbey Station in c.1963; steam crane DS81 has come to the rescue. The crane was built by Ransomes & Rapier of Ipswich in 1926. It was one of a pair ordered by the Southern Railway, both being delivered to Nine Elms works in 1927 and re-erected as SR Nº. 81S it was allocated initially to Brighton Shed before transfer to Fratton in 1946. A further transfer to Stewarts Lane occurred in 1963. In BR days it became DS81 and latterly ADRR95201 and moving into preservation on the Kent & East Sussex Railway in 1987. The crane can lift 36 tons at 20 ft radius, reducing to 16 tons at 40 ft. Its boiler works at 100 psi. The crane runs on three axles with a four wheel swiveling bogie at the rear. Its total weight is 79 tons 10 cwt. The scene had changed radically and is now at the west end of Merantun Way. The photographer is standing on the Morden Road bridge.
Photo by Nick Catford |
Home Page