The Huia Depot steam bridge crane by PeterH
Built in 1908 for the Huia Tramline by Smith's Foundary, from standard parts used in their steam log haulers.
This crane is a scotch derrick: the vertical post rotates, pulled by ropes by hand. Bridge cranes, used to repair bridges, are long and skinny and are saved from toppling off by not needing to rotate very far.
Log hauler winches have a two-cylinder steam engine. I reimagined the layout to have the driver behind the winch, and to have two winding drums side-by-side. Each drum has a dog clutch (with handle) and a brake (with foot pedal). The steam regulator is on the vertical pipe just in front of the boiler. A pair of swivelling 'Griffin Patent' steam pipes carry the steam to the cylinders; however their seals proved unreliable in service.
The fireman is on the tender. He tosses slabs of wood from the firewood rack into the firebox and tops up the boiler from the water tank with the Danford hand pump. Having the firebox doors under the funnel is typical of a steam log hauler.
The model is scratchbuilt (apart from the wheelsets, gears and pulleys) from wood, ply, cardboard, pins, aluminium lithography plate and brass. Paint is artist's acrylics, applied by dabbing with a brush or as washes.
I thought I was a rivet-counter, and I am surprised I have made this.