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Crane Numbering:

The problem of how cranes were numbered has occupied a good chunk of my research time as it's important to know which crane any new details which come to light actually belong to. I have not been able to locate any documentation for the period prior to 1892, so the PWD and early NZGR period remain a mystery, as to a large extent so do what cranes were operated in those periods. Nor have I been able to find any documentation for the systems of numbering used prior to 1979. But for the period April 1, 1892 to March 31, 1947 we are fortunate to have the Loco 63 Rolling stock ledgers (No7: Apr 1, 1892-Mar 31, 1900, No 14: Apr 1, 1900-Mar 31, 1906, and No 18: Apr 1, 1906 - Mar 31, 1947) which are held by the NZR&LS archive at Ava. From these it is possible to gain a probable picture of how the numbering worked

The entries in the 1892 Loco.63 rolling stock ledger show a set of existing numbers carried over from an earlier ledger. Summarising from the various entries in Rolling Stock ledger No7 allows us to see that the hand-crane numbers are allocated in blocks by section (apparently in a similar fashion to to the system for locomotives described by W.G. Lloyd). Cranes were arranged by capacity within these number blocks. Interestingly the ex-broad gauge cranes are numbered separately, which may reflect a previous numbering scheme. From 1900, new hand-cranes were added at the end of the sequence. A look at the number of cranes per section may reflect the amount of ongoing construction in each section. The five ton cranes were the standard breakdown crane for much of the period leading up to the time of the list. See Table 1 below for the former broad-gauge cranes, and Table 2 for the other sequence.

Steam cranes were numbered on a separate scheme, which appears to be based on boiler number, so some numbers overlapped. Some boiler numbers were re-used, but not till post 1909. There is also the complication of cranes being converted. Cranes converted from hand to steam seem to have taken their new boiler number. Cranes converted from steam to hand seem to have retained the former boiler number as crane number. However, No.281 was converted to 5-ton steam in 1912 and numbered No.75 (a re-use), and reconverted to hand in 1923 becoming No.292. Hand cranes No.s 253-258 were renumbered in 1931, removing confusion with the 1925 additions to the steam crane sequence. Subsequent steam crane purchases re-used numbers in the 199-227 range. The use of boiler numbers for steam cranes seems to have continued through to 1979, with other sequences being altered to allow for expansion of the numbers available. See Table 3 below for the sequence.

The whole numbering scheme was reorganised in 1909, giving all rail cranes a unique identity. Steam cranes retained their existing numbers, and the hand-cranes were reorganised into a new sequence starting at No.252. A sequence for pneumatic coaling cranes was added about 1922 started at No.293. In 1931 further renumbering saw No.s 253-258 changing to No.s 246 to 251 to avoid further number overlaps as steam cranes purchased in 1924 and 1925 took these numbers. See Table 4 for this sequence.

An anomaly has been found in the pneumatic crane sequence. The 1922 pneumatic crane sequence commences at No.293. However, the Bush Tramway Club have a 5-ton hand crane with evidence of also being numbered No.293. It is possible this is a later number, or a label indicating something else.

The first diesel cranes acquired in 1943 and 1950 were numbered in the steam crane sequence (No.197 and No.198). For the third crane in 1953, a number in the mobile crane series (No.407) was allocated. 198 was later renumbered to 350 which is in the pneumatic crane sequence. For the diesel crane purchases in the 1960s, a new sequence was established with blocks allocated within the 500s for the various capacity cranes.

In 1979 the numbering was again changed, with the introduction of the TMS system. All the surviving cranes which were to be operated on mainline running were included in the TMS sequence. The numbers to be used (which appear to be based on capacity, position in the class, and a check digit) were specified in a memo on file 76/345 dated 23 July 1979. E refers to non-revenue stock, L appears to indicate lift and S steam. A memo on file 27/592 of Sep 27, 1979 noted that some cranes (like 142, 350, 407) did not need TMS numbers as they operated on isolated track. The 4-ton diesel workshop cranes were then added to the sequence in a memo dated 15 Nov, 1982. It is not clear when or if 5-ton steam crane 256 was allocated a TMS number, but it has been associated with TMS ELS 506. See Table 5 for this sequence.

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Table 1: NZGR Cranes as at 1892 - Former-Broad gauge hand cranes.

No.	Description	Section
6	6-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff
7	2-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff
8	5-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff

(Note: two 1-ton hand cranes were written off 1893, but the ledgers unfortunately do not show their numbers)

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Table 2: NZGR Cranes as at 1892 - Hand cranes with subsequent additions.

No.	Description	Section	Notes
1	5-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff
2	5-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff
3	5-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff
4	5-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff
5	3-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff
6	2-ton hand	Picton
7	5-ton hand	Picton
8	2-ton hand	Nelson
9	5-ton hand	Nelson
10	2-ton hand	Westport	1899, wharf crane, not previously shown
11	5-ton hand	Westport
12	5-ton hand	Greymouth
13	5-ton hand	Greymouth
14	2-ton hand	Wellington
15	2-ton hand	Wellington
16	2-ton hand	Wellington
17	5-ton hand	Wellington
18	2-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
19	2-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
20	2-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
21	5-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
22	5-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
23	5-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
24	2-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
25	5-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
26	5-ton hand	Taranaki-Napier
27	2-ton hand	Auckland
28	2-ton hand	Auckland
29	2-ton hand	Auckland
30	5-ton hand	Auckland
31	5-ton hand	Auckland
32	5-ton hand	Auckland
	Additions from 1900
33	5-ton hand	Greymouth	1900, taken with Midland Rly
34	10-ton hand	Westland	1901 new
35	10-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	1902 new
36	10-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	1901 new
37	2-ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	1903 Not previously shown
40	3-ton hand	Nelson	ex steam?

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Table 3: NZGR Cranes as at 1892 - Steam cranes with subsequent additions from 1898.

No.	Description	Section	Notes
1	3-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
2	3-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
3	2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
4	1 1/2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
5	1 1/2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
6	1 1/2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
7	1 1/2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
8	2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
9	1 1/2--ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
10	1 1/2--ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
11	5-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
12	Hoisting Engine	Hurunui-Bluff
13	3-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
14
15	3-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
16	2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
17	2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
18	2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
19	2-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
20	Hoisting Engine	Hurunui-Bluff
36	3-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
42	2-ton steam	Greymouth
43	2-ton steam	Greymouth
47	12-ton steam	Greymouth
49	12-ton steam	Westport
50	3-ton steam	Westport
51	2-ton steam	Westport
58	1-ton steam	Taranaki-Napier?
70	2-ton steam	Auckland
71	2-ton steam	Auckland
72	2-ton steam	Auckland
73
74	3-ton steam	Kawakawa
75	3-ton steam	Kawakawa
76	3-ton steam	Kawakawa
77	3-ton steam	Whangarei
78	3-ton steam	Whangarei
79	3-ton steam	Whangarei
82	3-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
83	Hoisting Engine	Hurunui-Bluff
	Additions from 1898
60	20-ton steam	Westport	1900 new
93	7-ton steam	Whangarei	1898 new
94	7-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	1899 new
99	7-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	1901 new
100	7-ton steam	Whangarei	1901 new
101	7-ton steam	Auckland	1902 new
102	7-ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	1902 new
103	7-ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	1902 new
120	5-ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	1905 new
121	5-ton steam	Westland	1905 new
122	15-ton steam	Westport	1905 new

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Table 4: NZGR Cranes as at 1909 - Full sequence. Subsequent changes and former identities are noted

No.	Description	Section	Notes
1	3 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
2	3 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
3	2 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
6	1.5 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	reclassed 2-ton 1893
8	2 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
11	5 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	altered to 3-ton 1911
13	3 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
15	3 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
16	2 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
17	2 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	altered to 1.5-ton 1909
18	2 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
19	2 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	transferred from Hurunui-Bluff 1905
36	3 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
40	3 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	transferred from Nelson 1906
42	2 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	altered to 1.5-ton 1903, transferred from Greymouth 1905
43	2 ton steam	Nelson	altered to 1.5 ton 1903, transferred from Westland 1906
47	12 ton steam	Westland
49	12 ton steam	Westport
50	3 ton steam	Westport
51	2 ton steam	Westport
60	20 ton steam	Westport	wharf crane
70	2 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
71	2 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	transferred from Whangarei 1900
72	2 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	transferred from Auckland 1900
74	3 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	transferred from Kawakawa1900
75	3 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	transferred from Kawakawa1906
76	3 ton steam	Kawakawa
77	3 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	transferred from Whangarei 1898, transferred from Auckland 1899, transferred from Hurunui-Bluff 1906
78	3 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	transferred from Whangarei 1901
82	3 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
85	5 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	transferred from Westland 1907, originally 10 ton hand crane No.34, converted to 5 ton steam 1908
93	7 ton steam	Whangarei
94	7 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
99	7 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	reclassed as 5ton 1909
100	5 ton steam	Whangarei	reclassed as 7ton 1903
101	7 ton steam	Auckland
102	7 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
103	7 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP
120	5 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP
121	5 ton steam	Westland
122	15 ton steam	Westport
129	7 ton steam	Westland
136	7 ton steam	Whangarei	transferred from Auckland 1909
137	7 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP
138	7 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP
139	7 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
140	7 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	transferred from Hurunui-Bluff 1907
141	5 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
142	5 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
143	20 ton steam	Westport Wharf
149	5 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	reclassed as 7ton 1908
150	5 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff	reclassed as 7ton 1908, Addington shops
151	5 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP	reclassed as 7ton 1908, Hutt shops
152	5 ton steam	Auckland	reclassed as 7ton 1908, Otahuhu shops
155	7.5 ton steam	Hurunui-Bluff
156	7 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP
157	7 ton steam	Wgtn-Napier-NP
168	20 ton steam	Westport	wharf crane
252	10 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	handed over by WMR 1909
253	10 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	handed over by WMR 1909, 1892, to No.246 1931
254	2 ton hand	Auckland	ex-No.27, to No.247 in 1931
255	2 ton hand	Auckland	ex-No.28, to No.248 in 1931
256	2 ton hand	Auckland	ex-No.29, to No.249 in 1931
257	5 ton hand	Auckland	ex-No.30, to No.250 in 1931
258	5 ton hand	Auckland	ex-No.31, to No.251 in 1931
259	5 ton hand	Auckland	ex-No.32
260	2 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.14
261	2 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.15, made fixed 1909
262	2 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.16, made fixed 1909
263	2 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.18
264	2 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.19
265	2 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.20
266	2 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.24
267	5 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.17
268	5 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.21
269	5 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.22
270	5 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.23
271	5 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.25
272	5 ton hand	Wgtn-Napier-NP	ex-No.26
273	3 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.5
274	2 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.7, originally broad gauge, reclassed 3ton 1893
275	5 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.1
276	5 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.2
277	5 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.3
278	5 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.4
279	7 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.6,ex-originally broad gauge, reclassed 6ton 1893
280	10 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.35
281	10 ton hand	Hurunui-Bluff	ex-No.36
282	2 ton hand	Picton	ex-No.6
283	5 ton hand	Picton	ex-No.7
284	2 ton hand	Nelson	ex-No.8
285	5 ton hand	Nelson	ex-No.9
286	2 ton hand	Westport	ex-No.10
287	5 ton hand	Westport	ex-No.11
288	2 ton hand	Greymouth	ex-No.12
289	2 ton hand	Greymouth	ex-No.37
290	5 ton hand	Greymouth	ex-No.13
291	5 ton hand	Greymouth	ex-No.33, taken with Midland Railway in 1900

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Table 4: NZR Cranes as at 1979 - TMS sequence with later additions

TMS No.	Description	Previously	Notes
EL 417	4 ton diesel crane	350	27/592 of 3 Nov, 1982
EL 423	4 ton diesel crane	407	27/592 of 3 Nov, 1982
ELS 506	5 ton steam crane	??	?? to be confirmed - possibly 256 which was derated to 5-ton but supposedly out of service from 1979, or 120 which as a works crane would have been a late addition to TMS
ELS 1002	10 ton steam crane	223	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 1015	10 ton steam crane	226	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 1028	10 ton steam crane	224	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 1030	10 ton steam crane	227	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 1043	10 ton steam crane	225	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
EL 1007	10 ton diesel crane	197	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
EL 1013	10 ton diesel crane	511
EL 1036	10 ton diesel crane	512
EL 1508	15 ton diesel crane	550	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
EL 1514	15 ton diesel crane	551	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
EL 1520	15 ton diesel crane	552	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
EL 1537	15 ton diesel crane	553	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 1599	15 ton steam crane	124	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
EL 4004	40 ton diesel crane	500	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 4007	40 ton steam crane	200	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 4022	40 ton steam crane	201	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 4035	40 ton steam crane	199	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
ELS 4048	40 ton steam crane	202	76/345 of 23 July, 1979
EL 6002	60 tonne diesel crane	EL 6002
EL 6019	60 tonne diesel crane	EL 6019

Disclaimer: Please note that this information has been obtained from numerous sources both primary and secondary, through my own work and the works of other researchers. Sources are noted where possible. The information is provided in good faith, but as with much history research I can provide no guarantees of accuracy.

© 2007 Phillip TREWEEK All rights reserved