Index > News > S&P crane - press release 21 March 2007 The Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust regrets to announce that its 99 year old steam crane has failed its annual inspection, and may never work again. The crane was built in Bath by Stothert and Pitt in 1908, and is the last remaining rail mounted version produced by the firm. It was originally used in its maker's rail sidings and latterly served in the Bath Green Park locomotive depot. The crane, which has a 99 foot high jib (anybody know?), was loaned by Stothert and Pitt to the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust in 1971, and has regularly been used to move material around the Trust's Museum yard, at Washford on the West Somerset Railway. The Chairman of the Trust, Andrew Naish said: "The inspection has revealed major wastage in the firebox, which will cost tens of thousands to fix. It is very sad that this may be the end of this magnificent piece of our industrial heritage, so, if there is anyone out there who can help us bring the crane back into use, I would ask them please to contact the Trust at info@sdrt.org ." © SDRT 2007 All material contained herein is subject to copyright and may not be reproduced, copied, held in an electronic repository system (particularly on another web site) without seeking permission. Every effort has been made to identify the holders of copyright material included within this website. If any material has been used inadvertently without permission or attribution the Trustees of the Somerset & Dorset Railway Trust will be pleased to receive information with a view to correcting this in further updates.