REMEMBER When (SA, July 24) regarding two steam cranes stabled on No 15 Road BR mileage yard, near Tesco’s supermarket Swindon.

I first came across these two red painted steam breakdown cranes early in August 1991, at this time there had been an offer of secure storage in the Rover car plant which had a large railway complex. Unfortunately they could not negotiate the sharp curve across the cycle track and footpath that went in to the plant rail yard. They were then returned and stabled on No 1 spur in the British Railways exchange sidings adjacent to the old Highworth branch opposite Coopers scrap metal yard.

These cranes came off the Southern Region of British Railways, their numbers were ADRR 95209, formerly stationed at Hither Green and ADRR 95210 stationed at Stewarts Lane. They weighed 105 tons with a 45 ton lift, both were lower in height than the Great Western Railway crane No 2 that was also with them - its BR number was ADW 150434 and was formerly stationed at Swindon, it was more versatile than the other cranes and made it in to the Rover plant rail yard and was stabled on what was called the back road, along with a tool and packing van (a long wheel base former SR parcel van) and a large long wheel base water tanker number ADB 998990 - these wagons being part of the Stewarts Lane breakdown train. I think this GWR crane belonged to a Mr Bill Parker. This crane and wagons were removed elsewhere a long time ago.

The first two cranes mentioned were moved across the main line and stabled on the old cut back No 15 road in the BR mileage yard. They were in Swindon for a very long time, possibly for as long as 14 years or more. Some restoration was done on them and one was left with the jib up for a while, so must have been in steam.

I took some photos of them out on the Highworth branch on August 6, 1991. Crane No ADRR 95209 from Hither Green went to Tyseley Railway Museum in Birmingham and No ADRR 95210 from Stewarts Lane went back to the London area, to Southall Railway Centre and both are being restored to working order.

What a pity that steam cranes like these have not been secured to be exhibited in the Steam museum because they were very much a part of the railway scene and the men who operated them were very skilled - I know, I have seen them at work more than once!

H K CAREY Dores Road Stratton St Margaret Swindon