Last minute bid to keep historic crane for Llangollen Railway

The 50-ton crane was bought by a scrap dealer in the auction of property belonging to the railway's PLC which went into administration earlier this year.

The railway trust, which is not in financial difficulties, had raised enough money to buy vital rolling stock to keep the railway going, but did not have enough funds for the crane.

There had been fears that the Cowans Sheldon crane would be lost to the railway.

But now its new owner has given the trust time to raise enough cash to buy it back.

The railway's unofficial Facebook page said that talks had been held with bosses from Sandbach Commercial Dismantlers which now owns the crane, which is still at the railway.

They have said the crane can remain at the railway for the foreseeable future to allow the trust to launch an appeal to buy it.

It is believed that the crane went under the hammer for about £35,000.

Working order

The historic crane was built for the Ministry of Defence as a steam crane. It was later bought by British Railways and turned into a diesel-powered breakdown crane.

It could be the only one of its kind still in working order.

There are currently two appeals running at the railway as it recovers from the shock of the PLC, its operating arm, going under with debts of around £350,000.

Directors at the trust are busy holding talks to work towards reopening the popular tourist attraction in late July/early August, coinciding with the school holidays.

One appeal is for urgent structural work on the Dee Bridge on the railway, the other is to buy items that went up for auction.

The trust was successful in retaining an adapted, fully accessible coach for use by those in wheelchairs and with other mobility issues

It also bought a road railer, a smaller, 12-tonne crane and Lowmac.

Friendly bidders acquired two further coaches and a significant amount of machine tools which will remain on the railway.

A statement from the trust said: "We would welcome further support to help fund the higher prices we had to pay for the priority items and to provide the necessary working capital to get us up and running again. Please donate if you can online at llangollenrailway.enthuse.com and click the Donate button, or via our Facebook page. Alternatively, supporters are invited to send cheques payable to Llangollen Railway Trust Ltd to The Station, Abbey Road, Llangollen LL20 8SN."