Building the last Main Line Railway

Catesby Tunnel and Viaduct: gcrcs75

Another steam powered derrick being deployed in the construction of Catesby tunnel, circa 1897. The square timber buckets are fitted with iron straps to reinforce the corners of the bucket. These were loaded at the bottom of the tunnel and hoisted to the surface where they were emptied in to the contractors wagons. In many cases, these cranes would be fitted with a cab, fashioned by the contractors out of wood and corrugated metal. Messrs T Oliver & Son was the contractor responsible for building this section of the Railway (Contract No.4 Rugby to Woodford).

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