Thomas Smith & Sons Steam Crane Blunsdon 23 August 1981

One of the first items of rolling stock to arrive at the Swindon & Cricklade's site at Blunsdon was this Thomas Smith & Sons Steam Crane. It is seen here on the preservation site's first section of track on 23 August 1981, along with the unrestored GWR Hall Class 4-6-0 7903 Foremarke Hall. The crane, which was built at Rodley, near Leeds, seems largely complete, apart from its cables, and has obviously just received a repaint.