New Zealand rail cranes

New Zealand rail cranes
New Zealand rail cranes
	TranzRail Crane EL 6019 at Wairoa
Manufacturer	Cowan Sheldon
Entered service	Current
Number built	2
Number in service	1
Fleet numbers	EL 6002, EL 6019
Operator(s)	TranzRail, KiwiRail
Line(s) served	All lines
Specifications
Weight	134 tonnes
Track gauge	3 ft 6 in (1,067 mm)

Various rail operators in New Zealand have used (and continue to use) rail cranes, for various tasks on maintaining the rail corridor, including accident recovery work.^[1] Typically there are two classes, EL indicating diesel, and ELS indicating steam operation.

EL Class rail cranes

EL 1007 was the first diesel rail crane used in New Zealand (originally No. 197 pre-TMS). It was built in 1943 by Ransomes & Rapier, and is currently stored at the Weka Pass Railway.

Two 60 tonne Cowan Sheldon diesel rail cranes were built in 1979, after an initial tender in 1976. Both weighing 134 tonnes with a configuration of two 3-axle bogies and two relieving bogies,^[2] EL 6019 (nicknamed "Speedy") and EL 6002 (nicknamed "Tweety") accompanied by appropriate cartoon iconography entered service in 1980. Both are now under the ownership of KiwiRail.

In 2005, one of the two cranes sent to Wairoa as part of a work train, and two wagons, ended up falling into the Nuhaka River as two spans of the bridge it was intended to repair collapsed under the weight of the train.^[3] As a result, EL 6019 has been decommissioned, and is currently stored.

ELS Class rail cranes

Until the first diesel class rail cranes were built in 1943, steam rail cranes were in regular use by NZR under the more recent TMS classification of ELS. Remaining examples are now in the hands of preservation groups.

Preserved rail cranes

Silver Stream Railway maintain a preserved New Zealand Railways Ransomes and Rapier 15 Ton lift steam crane (ELS 1599/No. 124), built around 1946, and acquired in 1997. ^[4]

ELS 4007/No. 200, a Craven Bros. Ltd 40 Ton Breakdown steam crane, is listed as being preserved by Steam Incorporated.