Like most major loco depots, Bristol Bath Road provided a comprehensive breakdown and recovery service round the clock. When I first arrived on the depot, in 1970, the breakdown crane was a red Cowans-Sheldon 75-ton steam model. The breakdown train itself consisted of a few motley old coaches, probably pre nationalisation types, for carrying lifting brackets, beams and jacks as well as travelling and messing facilities for the crew. An old long wheelbase 4-wheeled CCT carried wooden packing. The BDVs, or ’vans’ as they were referred to, were always stabled onasiding in front of the Main Shed referred to as road two and a half with less than the usual 6 foot spacing to roads2and3. Thecrane itself was always stabled on a siding in front oftheadmin blockand adjacent to the depot departure road. There was sufficient open ground alongside to keep asupplyofcoal inthegrounded body of an open wagon.
Inthe second half of the 1970 s the 75-tonner went away to be converted to diesel-hydraulic operation and was replaced with a black 45-ton Ransomes & Rapier version, A small gang of staff from the steam era were instrumental in operating and maintaining these types of cranes. Due to the cranes’ asymmetrical layout, it was important when departing for a job to determine if it needed to arrive on site with jib leading or trailing.
By the end of that decade, one of a brand new batch of Cowans-Sheldon 76-tonne diesel hydraulic telescopic jib cranes was allocated to Bath Road. It was a very heavy machine with restrictive route availability; the civil engineers’ department produced a large portfolio of beautifully hand drawn maps covering the West of England Division showing where this crane was allowed to go. It listed punitive speed restrictions over certain structures, followed by a visit from a bridge examiner following its passage.
