The history of the W.A.G.R.'s cranes is complex, probably involves exchanges with the PWD, Harbour authorities and/or contractors and definitely includes renumberings so what I have here is partial knowledge. This is particularly the case with the hand cranes.

The earliest records of cranes are of a "travelling crane" on the Northern Railway in 1881 and one numbered Q175 in the Eastern railway wagon sequence from 1882. This was clearly a wagon number and class. A very full description of the early Eastern Railway 5 ton steam crane is given in an article in the Morning Herald of 24 November 1881. This number was blank in the 1900 renumbering list so either it had gone by that point or cranes had got a separate number series by then. I think that the latter is true but am unsure when cranes got their own number series. These two "travelling cranes" are listed in annual reports right through until 1890 when the Northern railway crane disappears leaving just the Eastern Railway one. It is unclear whether either or both of these are steam cranes rather than hand cranes but a steam crane is referred to in a Government Gazette notice of April 1890 which also implies that there was only one steam crane at that stage.

In later years at least there seem to have been separate number series for hand and steam cranes. There were at least 15 cranes in use by about 1900 as the annual report refers to 15 steam cranes being fitted with whistles in 1902. At least one steam crane was sold to the PWD (one confirmed for 1904).

There were no classes amongst the cranes that I am aware of although there were many different types. I think that the easiest way to go through them is probably by drawing number but that also has problems. Whilst some drawing numbers were retained though successive issues of the outline diagram books they did change from time to time so it is possible for the same drawing number to refer to different vehicles during their lives. The crane drawing numbers ranged from 1/2139 to 10/2139. At least drawing number 1/2139 was definitely reused.

The history of some of the crane makers themselves is also a bit convoluted but it helps put brackets on when cranes were built. Jessop and Sons amalgamated with Appleby brothers in 1897/8 (there is uncertainty in the literature) so the first of the drawing 1A/2139 and 10/2139 cranes must have been built in 1897/8 or before. Jessop & Appleby existed from 1897/8 to 1906 so the drawing 4/2139, 5/2139 and 7/2139 cranes must have been built during that period.

What follows is my best effort to make sense of his (thanks to those who have helped so far).

Hand Cranes

Note that hand cranes numbered 12-18 are believed to be diagram 2A. Number 7 appears to be duplicated.

The 1957 Engine Load tables restricts hand cranes 1-6, 8-10, 15 and 19 to 25mph when attached to goods or mixed trains. It may be that the others had gone by then (notably there is no number 7 listed). A 1923 source gives a total of only 11 hand cranes (as in 1957) and it may be that the others were gone before 1923 - possibly to the PWD or Harbour & Lights dept. By the 1971 working timetable cranes 4-6 were no longer listed. In internal documentation dated 1963, 1970 and 1972 there is also a hand crane 31 listed as being at Collie. I have no idea where this one came from or why it has such a high number. It was sold in July 1973.